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£330 sixth form bus charge attack £330 college bus charges rejected
(about 5 hours later)
Some students in Swansea may have to pay £330 a year to travel back and forth to sixth form or college. Plans which would have led to some students in Swansea paying £330 a year to travel back and forth to sixth form or college have been rejected.
City councillors will later consider introducing means testing for bus services currently provided for free. City councillors voted 35-26 against introducing means testing for bus services, currently provided for free.
The cut back is blamed on a lack of Welsh Assembly Government funding and could save over £200,000 a year. The idea was blamed on a lack of Welsh Assembly Government funding and could save over £200,000 a year.
But it is claimed it will limit course choices for some and hit many Welsh speaking students as there are just two Welsh medium comprehensive schools. But it was claimed it would limit course choices for some and hit many Welsh speaking students.
At present those enrolled on post-16 education are entitled to a free bus pass if they live three miles or more from their sixth form or college. This was because there are just two Welsh medium comprehensive schools.
Under the plans due to be discussed by full council only those entitled to free school meals will no longer have to pay. Post-16 education students are entitled to a free bus pass if they live three miles or more from their sixth form or college.
Others face a bill of £330 each academic year no matter how far they travel but it is proposed it could be paid in termly instalments. Under the plans, discussed by full council on Thursday, only those entitled to free school meals would no longer have to pay.
Others could have faced a bill of £330 each academic year from September, no matter how far they travel although it had been proposed to bring in termly instalments.
"Financial pressures""Financial pressures"
If approved the charges will be phased in from September. Earlier, cabinet member for education Mike Day said the provision of transport for pupils over the age of 16 was not something local authorities had to provide or pay for.
Cabinet member for education Mike Day said the provision of transport for pupils over the age of 16 was not something local authorities had to provide or pay for.
The situation varies from council to council in Wales, Monmouthshire means tests students, while Bridgend does not.The situation varies from council to council in Wales, Monmouthshire means tests students, while Bridgend does not.
It will mean that those pupils travelling longer distances, perhaps going to a Welsh language sixth form, will be hit hardest Coun Rene KinzettIt will mean that those pupils travelling longer distances, perhaps going to a Welsh language sixth form, will be hit hardest Coun Rene Kinzett
Mr Day said the proposals for means testing had been included in responses to consultation on previous plans to bring free post-16 transport to an end across the board.Mr Day said the proposals for means testing had been included in responses to consultation on previous plans to bring free post-16 transport to an end across the board.
"There is no secret that, due to increasing costs and a lower than inflation settlement from the Welsh Assembly Government, there are significant financial pressures on Swansea council, just as there are with many other local authorities," he said. "There is no secret that, due to increasing costs and a lower than inflation settlement from the Welsh Assembly Government, there are significant financial pressures on Swansea council, just as there are with many other local authorities," he said before the meeting.
"We have to balance the need to protect spending on the front-line education services like classrooms and areas that are discretionary."We have to balance the need to protect spending on the front-line education services like classrooms and areas that are discretionary.
"We appreciate the pressures on families at this difficult time and that's why we are looking to ensure that those people most in need of free post-16 transport will continue to get support.""We appreciate the pressures on families at this difficult time and that's why we are looking to ensure that those people most in need of free post-16 transport will continue to get support."
Limited choiceLimited choice
He said the £330 was still "a heavily discounted rate" equivalent to £1.74 a day.He said the £330 was still "a heavily discounted rate" equivalent to £1.74 a day.
But the move is being opposed by some councillors. But Plaid Cymru's Darren Price said: "While I recognise that moves have been undertaken to introduce an element of means testing into the system, it does mean that those families just above the threshold will be paying around £300 a year extra.
Plaid Cymru's Darren Price said: "While I recognise that moves have been undertaken to introduce an element of means testing into the system, it does mean that those families just above the threshold will be paying around £300 a year extra.
"At a time when families across Swansea are facing very difficult financial times this is a blow that they could do without.""At a time when families across Swansea are facing very difficult financial times this is a blow that they could do without."
Labour group leader David Phillips said: "WAG is seeking to encourage pupils to stay on at school. This proposal takes a sledge-hammer to this intention.Labour group leader David Phillips said: "WAG is seeking to encourage pupils to stay on at school. This proposal takes a sledge-hammer to this intention.
"This is saying 'Education guaranteed for the well-off and mobile and for the rest only if you can get there.'"This is saying 'Education guaranteed for the well-off and mobile and for the rest only if you can get there.'
"And for what - a saving at the maximum of less than £250,000. This council has millions in reserve - find the cuts from somewhere else.""And for what - a saving at the maximum of less than £250,000. This council has millions in reserve - find the cuts from somewhere else."
Conservative group leader Rene Kinzett said: "The effect of ending free transport for these 16-18 year olds will be to limit choice and unfairly discourage pupils from doing the courses they really want to pursue.Conservative group leader Rene Kinzett said: "The effect of ending free transport for these 16-18 year olds will be to limit choice and unfairly discourage pupils from doing the courses they really want to pursue.
"It will also mean that those pupils travelling longer distances, perhaps going to a Welsh language sixth form, will be hit hardest.""It will also mean that those pupils travelling longer distances, perhaps going to a Welsh language sixth form, will be hit hardest."
An assembly government spokesman said: "There is no entitlement by law for post 16 students to receive free transport to and from a place of learning, however many local authorities and further education institutions voluntarily provide support for travel or arrange transport for post 16 learners."An assembly government spokesman said: "There is no entitlement by law for post 16 students to receive free transport to and from a place of learning, however many local authorities and further education institutions voluntarily provide support for travel or arrange transport for post 16 learners."