FREE TRANSPORT FOR CHURCH SCHOOL PUPILS MAY BE SCRAPPED

Currently the council has chosen 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.

The consultation will ask residents their views on whether these arrangements should continue.

Councillor Keith Glazier, Lead Cabinet Member for Children's and Adults Services, said: 'I urge all residents to give us their views because the decisions we make on this issue will have an impact on what savings we need to make and the services we provide.

'We will have to consider whether the current arrangements are fair and applied equally to everyone. Most parents who choose not to send their child to a local school have to pay the transport costs. It can be argued it is unfair that parents whose children attend denominational schools receive help with their transport whilst children at other schools do not.

'The County Council is committed to low council tax increases, which is what local people have also told us that they want. But the money we get from the Government doesn't cover our inflation costs. This means we have to make some difficult decisions about what services we continue to provide."

'We have had to spend significantly more than planned this year on school transport because costs are increasing well above inflation. If we cannot save money on school transport we will have to find savings elsewhere.'

Residents are to be asked their views on various options. Leaflets will be sent to all parents and from 19 February information and the questionnaire will be available on the Council's website at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/haveyoursay

The consultation will end on 23 March 2007, and recommendations will be considered by Cabinet on 1 May. Any changes would take effect from September 2008.