Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: July 8, 2025

Purpose:

Content: Councillor Levy proposed an amendment to Councillor Kerr’s amendment under CPR 14.1 (vi).  The new amendment was accepted by the proposer and seconder of the original amendment.   Council voted to take the new amendment with 39 votes in favour, 21 against and no abstentions.   The amendment was carried with 40 votes in favour, 21 against and no abstentions.   The motion as amended was carried with 40 votes in favour, 21 against and no abstentions.   The Children’s Society notes that transport poverty exacerbates other inequalities, with children from low-income families potentially missing out on school trips, extracurricular activities, or suffering poor school attendance. A and a 2025 report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies similarly identified that young people’s mobility is closely tied to long-term social and economic outcomes.   The Council notes that it is working with bus companies to improve services in Oxfordshire and thanks them for their support for its schemes to make bus services more reliable, quicker and more extensive.  It would welcome the opportunity to make services more accessible to young people and others.    This Council notes that there are many transport disadvantaged groups who could significantly benefit from targeted support with public transport, such as those under 18, care leavers and asylum seekers.   This Council, being aware of the levels of child poverty in this county and the effect this has on the ability of families and young people to travel by public transport, asks the Cabinet to set up a Cabinet Advisory Group to consider a scheme for the whole county to provide free or significantly reduced bus travel for children and young people up to age of 18 where the money for such scheme would require substantial funding to be viable and longterm and that this will require funding from central government in addition to Oxfordshire making a contribution were a Workplace Parking Levy to be introduced.   Such a scheme could be funded from fines from ANPR enforcement and would enable children and young people to get to school and college settings by enabling bus companies to develop routes to school that better meet the travel needs of families and children.   This Council notes West of England Mayor Helen Goodwin has funded free travel for children up to 16 this summer.