North Yorkshire Council is facing multiple investigations by the local authority watchdog over its controversial home-to-school policy change, it has emerged.
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has agreed to investigate at least five cases following complaints from parents about the council’s handling of their applications for school transport.
The parents contacted the ombudsman after the council rejected their appeals for free transport following a change in the rules, which means only travel to a child’s nearest — not catchment — school is paid for by the authority.
The School Transport Action Group (STAG), which was formed to fight the policy change, said the ombudsman had advised five families that it was investigating their complaints after carrying out initial assessments, with more than a dozen more waiting to hear if their cases will be examined.
It is understood the complaints focus on issues surrounding the council’s decision-making and appeals processes.
Critics of the appeals system say families’ individual circumstances have not been taken into account.
The accuracy of the mapping system used by the council to determine childrens’ closest school has also been questioned.
One family’s complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) regarding the council’s handling of a freedom of information request is also being investigated, according to STAG.
A spokesperson for the group said:
“These investigations are ongoing and no conclusions have yet been reached.
“The complaints relate to parents whose children were denied transport under recent changes, which removed the right to travel to their local catchment school.
“Over 200 appeals were submitted by families with children starting new schools last September, the majority of which were rejected by the panel of North Yorkshire Council councillors.
“Parents who remain dissatisfied with the outcome of the internal appeals process have six months to submit a complaint to the ombudsman.”
The council introduced the policy change in September last year with the aim of reducing the annual school transport bill of more than £50m.
It has defended the new rules, saying they are compliant with the law and with guidance from the Department for Education.
But parents have criticised the change which they say had split siblings, creating financial hardship, and forced then to pay or find alternative transport.
Opposition councillors have also hit out at the policy, which has the backing of the Conservative leadership.
Councillor Kevin Foster, leader of the Green and Independents group on the council, said he was “not surprised” independent regulators were looking at the council’s handling of the policy change.
He added:
“From day one, alarm bells have been ringing about how this policy was being managed.
“It’s crucial that families know their concerns are being taken seriously and that they are treated fairly.
“This needs to be resolved quickly so parents can have confidence that the council is acting properly.”
Councillor Tom Seston, leader of the Reform group, added:
“If it’s true there are issues with the mapping software, this will leave a lot of avenues of appeal for parents.
“There are some people who have been denied their preferred school by less than 100 metres.”
A review of the policy will take place in July this year.
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman declined to comment on the complaints.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service has contacted North Yorkshire Council for comment.
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