Oxfordshire County Council has deferred a decision on a controversial home-to-school transport shake-up.

The council’s cabinet was due to make a decision on plans to withdraw free transport from parents who choose not to send their children to their nearest school tomorrow.

But the decision has been deferred indefinitely after the Government changed its guidelines on consultations.

Council leader Ian Hudspeth said: “The council’s cabinet was due to make a decision on this tomorrow, but following changes to consultation arrangements for home-to-school transport which the Government made on July 11, we are now required to defer that decision.

"It is also clear there are concerns about the potential impacts of this proposal, and the Education scrutiny committee has recommended that we allow more time to consult with schools and their communities.

“However, we are still intending to debate the item in full, and we want to hear the voices of those people who have asked to speak in public both against and in support of the proposals.

“It’s important to stress that this decision is not a commitment to abandoning the proposals.

"While we are required to go back to the drawing board and look at things in more detail, there’s no getting away from the fact that huge savings still need to be made across the council’s services in the coming years – and reducing the amount we currently spend on home-to-school transport will not be exempt from discussions about how we can achieve these savings.”

Last Thursday, the Department for Education withdrew its 2013 guidance on home-to-school transport, reverting to its 2007 guidance.

Council spokesman Owen Morton said: “This has implications for the council’s proposals since these have been consulted on according to the 2013 guidelines.”

  • Have you been affected by these proposals? If so, give reporter Freddie Whittaker a ring on 01865 425498 or email us at news@oxfordmail.co.uk