Families of children with learning disabilities in West Berkshire face a fresh round of cuts set to axe free transport.
West Berkshire Council plans to make parents of 16 to 18-year-olds with special needs pay £703 a year for transport.
Axe falls again: West Berkshire Council is at the centre of another controversial round of cuts
‘Even those on low incomes will pay’
The authority insists it will not means-test the fee, which it will introduce in 2017/18. Even those on low incomes will pay.
And it will strip back a service for children classed as carers. The service will offer support only if a child is ‘on the edge of care’, has caring responsibilities, is at risk of sexual exploitation or is reported missing.
The service will also support families at risk of breakdown and those affected by domestic abuse, parental mental health or drug abuse.
The authority says support at an “earlier level of need” will “no longer have the same availability”.
One parent fears her 12-year-old son will miss out on social clubs and trips out. The boy is classed as a carer because of the severity of his eight-year-old sister’s autism.
Leila Ferguson, chief executive of West Berkshire Mencap, said: “Whilst I understand the financial pressures the local authority have this still seems extremely short sighted.”
The authority remains at the centre of a battle over a previous round of cuts focused on respite services.
No obligation over free transport
West Berkshire has a legal obligation to provide transport for special needs pupils who travel more than three miles. However, it says it does not have to offer the transport free of charge.
Lynne Doherty, West Berkshire’s spokeswoman for children and young people, said: “These are charges that already apply in some authorities and are a product of West Berkshire’s poor financial settlement, which has led us to review all elements of the transport service we currently provide.”
She stressed that the council had yet to make a final decision.
Published: 30 November 2016
