Liberal Democrats on Lancashire County Council have blasted a consultation on School Transport Policy as a Sham. 

County Councillor Mark Jewell said, “We all recognise that Labour have left us in a mess and savings are going to have to be found from every nook and cranny of the budget. However, these proposals penalise those parents who wish to send their children to a Church School. Clearly, you can still choose schools, but it may come at a significant cost. LCC have ignored 98.5% of respondents (4,401) to the ‘consultation’ objecting to these proposals”. 

Under Conservative plans students who currently get free transport to a Church school will have to pay £2 per day. The exception would be where the denominational school was their nearest school and they lived over the statutory distance, in which case they would still receive free travel. 

County Councillor Mark Jewell posed the question at the last full Council meeting whether this was legally discriminatory. In a muddled response, a formal written response was finally received reiterating that the provisions of the Equality Act 2006 do not apply in relation to the exercise of the Council’s transport functions.  The results of the consultation on denominational schools reveal that of the 4,472 responses received 98.5% opposed the proposals. The decision of the Cabinet Member has been ‘called-in’ for reconsideration. 

Notes:  See County Councillor Mark Jewell pose his question at full Council and the muddled response here. 

48% of Lancashire Schools are voluntary aided Church of England or Catholic Schools. Papers for the Call in can be located at http://www3.lancashire.gov.uk/council/meetings/displayAgendas.asp?meetid=8522