The Education, SEND & Inclusion Cabinet Panel met on Monday 11 May 2026 to discuss and approve changes to the post-16 transport policy. The panel agreed to recommend to Cabinet that personal travel budgets (PTBs) be introduced as the standard offer for travel support for 16 to 18-year-olds.

Post-16 Transport Policy and Consultation

The panel discussed the proposal to amend Hertfordshire County Council's post-16 transport policy to introduce personal travel budgets (PTBs) as the standard offer for travel support for all 16 to 18-year-olds. Jane Avery, presenting the proposal, explained that while there is no statutory entitlement for travel support for this age group, the council currently spends approximately £5 million annually transporting nearly 500 young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) aged 16-18. This cost is projected to increase.

The introduction of PTBs is intended to offer greater flexibility for families, promote independence for young people through travel training, and be more cost-effective for the council, with an estimated annual saving of £3 million. These savings are earmarked for reinvestment in SEND services. The proposal has been informed by an eight-week consultation, which received over 1,600 responses. While 54% of respondents indicated they would not be happy to receive a PTB, 27% were happy to do so, and 19% were unsure.

Key concerns raised during the consultation included:

• High individual needs: Parents expressed worries that many young people have needs that prevent independent or public transport use, and that the specialist support provided by trained operators on contracted transport cannot be easily replicated.
• Detrimental impact on families: Concerns were raised that PTBs could place significant strain on families, particularly single parents, due to increased employment and income pressures.
• Lack of public transport alternatives: In rural areas, existing services can involve long and complex journeys, and many young people may not have the travel training skills for independent travel.
• Shift of responsibility: A concern that the council was shifting responsibility to parents and carers, potentially causing anxiety and leading to young people missing school.

Jane Avery assured the panel that these concerns had been addressed in the report and in accompanying FAQs, and that an appeal process would be in place to consider individual circumstances and detrimental impacts. Transitional arrangements would also be implemented, with changes introduced incrementally by year group.

During the discussion, Councillor Paula Hiscocks sought clarification on which neighbouring authorities had adopted similar policies and raised concerns about potential disparities in transport provision for children travelling into Hertfordshire from other counties. Jane Avery confirmed that while statutory responsibilities exist for all local authorities, the method of fulfilling them varies.

Councillor Chris Alley questioned the methodology for deciding who receives a PTB and who does not, and expressed concerns about potential challenges at tribunals. He also asked if local transport links would be considered in decision-making. Jane Avery explained that a standardised discretionary paperwork process would be used, incorporating major decision-making criteria, and that a moderation process would ensure consistency.

Councillor Calvin Horner, drawing on personal experience, emphasised the importance of making the initial request process as unconfrontational as possible, given concerns that PTBs might be perceived as compulsory.

The panel also discussed the role of college bursaries in supporting travel costs and the communication strategy for informing families about the new policy. It was confirmed that a communication meeting was scheduled, and outreach to colleges and open days would be used to disseminate information.

The panel ultimately voted to recommend to Cabinet that the County Council's post-16 transport policy be amended for the 2026-27 academic year, introducing PTBs as the standard offer for the majority of 16 to 18-year-olds. A proposal was also agreed for the policy's impact to be reviewed by the panel in early 2027.