9 November - SEN Transport questions. A little explanation
Yesterday’s Council meeting report left the question of Bexley’s educational
Travel Assistance Policy unanswered. Cabinet Member for Education John Fuller
provided some figures which he must have thought answered parents’ criticism but
meant very little to me and it was clear that Labour Councillors were not impressed, allegedly
calling his answer “rubbish”.
Not for the first time Bonkers had to hold back on what might otherwise have
been reported because Councillors who know a subject inside out assume everyone
else does and talk in a sort of shorthand. Councillor Perfect’s
question referring to the Travel Assistance Policy did not prefix it with the
initials SEN and at no time during the discussion did anyone use those initials so I was left
wondering if she was talking about the new SEN Travel Policy or another that I had somehow missed.
48 hours later it has become clear that it was indeed the SEN Travel Policy that
was being discussed. I thought it might not be because the Conservatives assured
everyone at previous meetings that their new policy would affect no one until
September 2019. Like so much of what Bexley Conservatives say, that would appear to be a lie.
During the meeting there was a reference to the police being called to a
travel related disturbance at one school which was not reported here because it was unclear how
it fitted in with what Councillor Fuller was saying.
Fortunately Labour Councillor Wendy Perfect has attempted to provide an
explanation. She particularly takes issue with parents being blamed for the
fiasco and whatever you think of the new Policy it probably isn’t a good idea
to do that, and all for a relatively tiny saving that will only rise to
the giddy height of £18,000 in a year’s time.
Click image to see the whole of the Press Release. (PDF)"