‘Discriminative’ transport plan set to go

Dudley Council may backtrack on ‘morally wrong’ and ‘discriminative’ proposals after a consultation to save cash on school transport.

A report for the authority’s cabinet meeting on November 6 suggests changes to recommendations aimed at cutting the spiralling cost of travel support for school pupils and post-16 students.

The council has a legal duty to support pupil’s travel costs if they meet specific conditions; the bill for the last financial year was almost £9m, a whopping £1.5m more than councillors had budgeted for.

A six-week public consultation on five proposed reforms was launched in April 2025 and cabinet members will discuss officers’ conclusions.
A proposal to stick strictly to compulsory school ages was the most unpopular with 77 percent of respondents opposed to denying support for travel until the term after a child’s fifth birthday.

The report, signed by Gerard Jones, Dudley’s interim director of children’s services, said: “Feedback was overwhelmingly opposed to limiting travel support to children aged five and above. 

“Respondents described the proposal as ‘discriminative’, ‘morally wrong’ and ‘unreasonable’, citing the negative impact on some of the borough’s most vulnerable children.”

Another idea which received a thumbs-down was removing discretionary support which got a negative response from 70 percent of respondents.

The report says some respondents described the idea as ‘inhumane’ and added: “Many families emphasised that not every case can be measured against a standard set of criteria without risking unfair outcomes.”   

A proposal to increase post-16 parental contributions won support by just two percent from people who took part in the consultation.

Rates have not altered since 2012 and are currently £500 per year or £300 per year for low income families.

Following the consultation, where officers say respondents recognised the need to keep up with rising costs, a phased increase over two years linked to the inflation plus ten percent per year for low income families and 15 percent per year for the standard rate is proposed.

The report said: “While there is some acceptance of the need to adjust contributions, a more balanced, compassionate, and needs-sensitive approach is essential to avoid placing additional pressure on families who rely on this critical support.”

Proposals to ‘strengthen the assessment’ of travel options including bus or rail passes, a mileage allowance and personal travel budget, plus taxis for five to 16-year-olds, got a neutral response in the consultation.

Officers said assessments will be made to suit young people’s needs and added: “Implementation must be guided by co-production, transparency, and a commitment to person-centred planning.”

The report said: “The proposed changes will have a significant positive impact on the local authority’s ability to deliver home-to-school transport more efficiently and sustainably. 

“By increasing post-16 parental contributions in line with inflation and strengthening the assessment process through tiered travel support options, the local authority can better allocate resources based on individual needs while maintaining financial stability.”