Fewer parents winning taxi transport appeals
PAThe number of parents winning appeals to get home-to-school taxi transport for their children in Kent has halved in the last year, it has been revealed.
Kent County Council (KCC) figures show that fewer than a third of cases – 40 of the 137 appeals – were successful at tribunal last year, compared to 56% in 2023.
The authority's bill for losing appeals has also shrunk in the last year from nearly £400,000 to just fewer than £60,000.
Deputy cabinet member for finance, Harry Rayner, said the cost for pupil taxis rose sharply in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The cost of ferrying pupils to classes has spiralled in recent years, often linked to children awarded Education and Health Care Plans, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
In late 2023, it was revealed transport for children with special education needs (SEN) would cost the tax-payer £60m in the financial year.
More than 6,000 pupils were getting free taxis to classes in Kent and the bill was set to rise. As a result, the council announced its intention to reduce the costs.
Appeals can be made for reasons including financial hardship, medical needs and the child's safety.
Successful appeals last year will cost Kent tax-payers £58,078, or £1,450 per pupil.
When discussed at a KCC regulation committee on Tuesday, councillor Ian Chittenden expressed concerns that the price was becoming a driving factor in the drop in costs.
"I hate to think that we are being influenced by anything other than the evidence," he said.
Meanwhile, councillor Susan Carey added that it was "quite legitimate that cost is one of the elements".
Mr Rayner said that the latest bill was at the £70m mark – fewer than the feared £80m it was expected to rise to.
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