The Members Home to School Transport Appeals Panel of Carmarthenshire Council met on Wednesday 30 September 2026 to consider three appeals regarding the provision of free school transport. All three appeals were unanimously refused by the panel.

Appeals for Free School Transport Refused

The panel considered three separate appeals from applicants ARW, LRL, and OJT, all of whom were seeking free school transport to a school that was not the nearest or Local Education Authority (LEA) designated school for their home address. In each case, the panel unanimously resolved to refuse the appeal, upholding the Authority's Home to School Transport Policy. The refusal was based on the grounds that the children were not attending the nearest or LEA designated school due to parental preference.

The decision to exclude the public from these discussions was made unanimously, citing that the reports contained exempt information relating to particular individuals, as defined in Paragraph 12 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. The public interest test determined that while disclosure would support transparency, the need to protect the identity of the applicants and their families outweighed the public interest in disclosure.

The panel comprised Councillor E.G. Thomas (Chair), Councillor G. Davies, and Councillor M.J.A. Lewis (Local Member). Also present were S. Rossiter (Assistant Solicitor), A. Evans (Operations Manager - Passenger Transport), K. A. Phillips (Passenger Transport Policy & Development Manager), G. Thomas (Assistant Schools Admissions Officer), K. Evans (Democratic Services Officer), and K. James (Solicitor, observer). The meeting was held virtually and concluded within a short timeframe.

The Authority's Home to School Transport Policy outlines the criteria for eligibility for free transport, which generally prioritises attendance at the nearest or LEA designated school. Appeals are considered based on individual circumstances, but the policy's stipulations regarding school choice are a key factor in decision-making.