Decision

Salford City Council – Record of Decision

I Councillor Jim Cammell, Lead Member for Children’s and Young People’s Services, in exercise of the powers contained within the Elected City Mayor’s Register of Executive Functions delegated to Lead Members, do hereby:

·     approve the Salford City Council Home To School Transport Policy.

The Reasons are: There is an amendment to the Home to School Transport  Policy  concerning Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Motability, as this is no longer required. There are also a series of administrative updates that are proposed to be implemented to reflect current operational processes.

Options considered and rejected were: None  To not update the policy would mean that the policy would not be in line with the policy in line with paragraph 72 of “Travel to school for children of compulsory school age”, the Department for Education Statutory Guidance.

Assessment of Risk: None.

The source of funding is: Core budget.

Legal Advice obtained:

The change to remove reference to Disability Living Allowance and how the mobility component must be used will bring the policy in line with paragraph 72 of “Travel to school for children of compulsory school age”, the Department for Education Statutory Guidance:

“A child’s eligibility is not affected by any further benefits or allowances they or their parents may receive. …Parents who receive the higher rate mobility component for their child may choose to use it to lease a Motability vehicle, but there is no requirement for them to do so. Being eligible for DLA or having access to a Motability vehicle is not relevant to a disabled child’s eligibility for free travel to school.”

I raised the issue of whether the change to online only for applications and appeals could exclude specific groups and what support is in place for them. I understand this will be addressed by the planned impact assessment.

Financial Advice obtained: The proposed changes are administrative only - updating application and appeal processes and clarifying mileage claim wording - without altering eligibility criteria or introducing new entitlements. As a result, they are not expected to have any material financial impact on Salford City Council’s Home-to-School Transport budget, and overall cost forecasts remain unchanged.

Procurement advice obtained: N/A.

HR Advice obtained: N/A.

Any comments and submissions by the chairs of the governing boards under consideration.

Contact Officer: Cathy Starbuck

Tel No 0161 778 0183

·     This decision is not subject to consideration by another Lead Member/ Director.

·     The appropriate scrutiny panel to call-in the decision is the Children’s Scrutiny Panel.

Signed:    Cllr J Cammell             Dated:    14 May 2026.

         Lead Member for Children’s and Young People’s Services

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FOR DEMOCRATIC SERVICES USE ONLY:

* This decision was published on 14 May 2026

* This decision will come in force at 4.00 p.m. on 21 May 2026 unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.