New changes as part of a council’s ongoing review to transform its home to school transport travel arrangements have been agreed. 

Durham County Council’s existing service provides daily transport to more than 9,000 children and young people, with more than 1,000 contracts with transport providers. 

Last year, the local authority agreed to review and transform its arrangements after finding expenditure had increased substantially due to demographic growth, inflationary pressures, and prices. 

Further proposed changes include removing its Maintained Concessionary Scheme from 2025/26, but a decision was deferred until later this year.  

Explaining the proposal, a council report read: “There is no clear rationale or business case for the council to continue to fund additional home to school transport with the purpose of transporting non-entitled children to school. 

“This is an additional cost to the council, which is over and above statutory requirements, is not provided by other councils, and is potentially inequitable as it benefits a very small number of schools/pupils and parents. 

“By making the changes to the Maintained Concessionary Scheme, the council will reduce expenditure by approximately £200,000 per annum.”

New incentives to support parents of children with SEND including a new Personal Travel Budget provision, which includes two payment rates of 45p per mile at the standard rate and an enhanced payment of 75p per mile, will be implemented. 

The Standard “Spare Seat” Scheme and Schools Scheme will continue to operate unchanged. 

Jim Murray, head of Education and Skills, said: “Although significant progress has been made in a year the budget position demonstrates the significant increase in costs over time and why this piece of work remains a priority for the council.”

A 2021 review of the transport service found the authority provides services beyond its statutory duty, which are not provided in other local authority areas. Last year, concessionary fares increased to £2 from £1.63 to bring them into line with similar fares throughout the region. 

Cllr Ted Henderson, cabinet member for Children and Young People, said: “While the county council must meet its statutory duty to provide free transport to children who meet specific criteria, we must also ensure we consider the sustainability and fairness of service. 

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“We currently provide some transport services which go beyond our statutory duty, and which are not provided in most other councils.

“The proposals will ensure we continually comply with our statutory duty but also ensure equality and transparency of provision for parents and schools.”

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, cabinet member for economy, said the home to school transport programme is “a complex daily operation”.

She added: “It is especially pleasing to be able to offer parents an enhanced opportunity to transport their children to school through the use of a personal travel budget. This is a voluntary arrangement that parents can consider if it suits their circumstances.”