As part of the Council's open and transparent decision making processes, a recent decision by Bath & North East Somerset Council's, Early Years Children & Youth Cabinet Member Cllr Dine Romero (made at its meeting on 10th April 2013) was reviewed by the Early Years Children & Young People Overview and Scrutiny Panel held at a public meeting on the 9th May 2013.
The decision addressed the proposed phased withdrawal of subsidised home to school transport for new starters attending denominational schools.
11 councillors had asked that this decision be reviewed (or called in), raising concerns about the recommendations to implement this scheme believing that alternative options should be investigated in order to continue to provide support for denominational transport. Councillors are also concerned that the Council has not fully assessed the impact withdrawal of the denominational transport subsidy and the effect that this will have on the cost of statutory home to school transport support.
The call in process means that an Executive decision, which has been made but not yet implemented, can be scrutinised to check that it was made following the correct evidence and procedures.
To assist in their deliberations, the Panel received a range of written and verbal evidence, interviewed the Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children and Youth, senior Council officers, and a representative Councillor Gabriel Batt on behalf of those Councillors who signed the request to review the decision for the call-in request. There was also written evidence from members of the public.
Having considered the evidence, the Panel voted to refer the call-in back to the Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children and Youth for her to reconsider the decision (known as 'upholding' the call-in).
A public meeting of the Cabinet will be held on May 20th 2013, 6.30pm.
Councillor Sally Davis, the Panel chair, said, "The call in meeting was very constructive, with a very comprehensive submission by Cllr Batt for the call in signatories and answers from the Cabinet Member. Members of the public gave their views which were welcomed by the panel. The majority view of the Panel was that the cabinet member's decision needs to be reconsidered."
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