The Members Home to School Transport Appeals Panel met on 3 September 2025, and considered an appeal regarding the non-provision of free school transport. The panel unanimously agreed to exclude the public from the meeting during the discussion of the appeal due to the confidential nature of the information to be discussed. Following a review of the appellant's representations and the observations of departmental officers, the panel unanimously resolved to refuse the appeal.

School Transport Appeal

The panel considered an appeal by applicant I.M. against the decision of the authority not to provide free school transport. The Stage 1 Review Panel had previously refused I.M.'s application because the school in question was not the nearest or Local Education Authority (LEA) designated school for I.M.'s home address, and therefore did not meet the criteria outlined in the council's policy for the provision of assistance.

The panel considered the written representations of the appellant and the observations of the departmental officers, together with the individual circumstances of the case.

Ultimately, the panel decided to refuse the appeal. The decision was made in line with the Authority's Home to School Transport Policy, as I.M. was not attending the nearest or Local Education Authority designated school for the home address, due to parental preference.

The panel agreed that the report relating to the appeal should not be publicised because it contained exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972¹, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007. The panel felt that while disclosure would support transparency and accountability in the decision-making process, the public interest in maintaining confidentiality outweighed the public interest in disclosure because of the need to protect the identity of the applicant and the family.

Attendees at the meeting were: Councillor Edward Thomas, Cabinet Member and Chair; Councillor Glynog Davies, Cabinet Member; A. John, Assistant Solicitor; A. Evans, Operations Manager Passenger Transport; Kelly Phillips, Passenger Transport Policy & Development Manager; Euros Anthony, Senior School Admissions Officer; Siwan Rees, Simultaneous Translator; and Emma Bryer, Democratic Services Officer. Councillor Jean Lewis, Aelod Lleol ar gyfer y Ward ² also attended.