Faith transport decision delayed

East Sussex County Council is to have further discussion with the church authorities before reaching a decision.

At a meeting of the council's Cabinet today, councillors agreed to defer making a decision until next month following a recommendation from the council's director of Children's Services.

Councillor Keith Glazier, lead member for Children's and Adults' Services on East Sussex County Council said the reason for the delay was to honour a commitment to fully consult the church authorities.

He said, "We hope an agreement can be reached on a way forward that we can all sign up to."

The county council had received 2,217 responses to their consultation leaflet which had been circulated across the county in February.

To the question "Do you think children who go to a denominational school should be entitled to free transport?" 1,533 had responded "yes" and 585 stated "no".

He further reported that 91 letters had been received opposing any change in current policy.

At the moment the council spends 585,000 on transporting 1,334 pupils to denominational schools which is about 7% of the total spending on school transport.

The change is being considered because the council has to consider whether the current arrangements are fair.

Most parents who choose not to send their child to a local school have to pay the transport costs. The council's transport costs are also increasing significantly this year.

The consultation exercise which asked residents in the county for their views on pupil transport to denominational schools ended on 30 March. Various options of change were included.

The schools concerned are church schools where the ownership of the buildings rests with the relevant church. Currently the council chooses to give children going to these schools free transport where the distance is over three miles and the child or parent is of that faith.