Consultation on Hampshire County Council’s Post-16 Transport Policy for 2023/24
Closed on
Hampshire County Council sought residents’ and stakeholders’ views on its proposed Post-16 Transport Policy for 2023/24
The 2022 Post-16 Transport Policy
The County Council is required by law to consult on its Post-16 Transport Policy every year.
The following was the only change to the Post-16 Transport Policy that was proposed for 2023/24:
To increase the parental contribution amount (explained in Section 3, page 2, of the current Post-16 Transport Policy) to the amounts shown below.
The proposed charges
2022/23 contribution
| Distance to travel | Annual charge | Termly charge |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 5 miles* | £616.20 | £205.40 |
| 5.01 to 7.5 miles* | £853.44 | £284.48 |
| 7.51 to 10 miles* | £1,195.43 | £398.48 |
| Over 10 miles* | £1,365.91 | £455.30 |
Proposed 2023/24 contribution
| Distance to travel | Annual charge | Termly charge |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 5 miles* | £783.19 | £261.06 |
| 5.01 to 7.5 miles* | £1084.72 | £361.57 |
| 7.51 to 10 miles* | £1,519.39 | £506.46 |
| Over 10 miles* | £1,736.07 | £578.69 |
*The Distance to Travel is measured from the allocated pick-up point to the education establishment, measured using GIS mapping software.
Rationale
The Post 16 charge to parents is a partial contribution towards the overall transport costs. Families in receipt of free school meals (due to low income) are not required to pay the contribution. No charge will be made for families that are in receipt of means-tested benefits such as
- Income Support;
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance;
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance;
- support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999;
- the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit;
- Child Tax Credit (provided they’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190);
- Working Tax Credit run-on-paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit; or
- Universal Credit.
The actual costs for Post 16 transport are currently rising by 27.1% per annum. The proposal would mean parents continue to pay the same proportion of the total transport cost as they have previously.
Transport costs have risen significantly over and above inflation due to the increase in cost of living, increase in fuel prices and conditions in the marketplace. The transport market (bus and taxi) across the country is extremely challenging, with a national shortage of drivers and a significant reduction in competition, which are contributing factors to the overall increase in costs.
Families with a low income, but not in receipt of the above benefits, where the imposition of the charge would reduce their income to around £16,190; or those with exceptional circumstances, may apply for a discretionary waiver or reduction in charge.
Where a charge is made parents can choose to pay this as either an annual sum or spread across the three school/college terms.
How to have your say
This consultation was open from Monday 20 February 2023 and closed at 11:59pm on Sunday 2 April 2023.
The consultation findings were presented to the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services and Young People on 11 May 2023, as part of the recommendations for the 2023/24 Post-16 Transport Policy. The proposed changes were approved.