The Carmarthenshire Council's Members Home to School Transport Appeals Panel met on Wednesday, 3 September 2025, to consider one appeal against the non-provision of free school transport. The panel unanimously resolved to exclude the public from the meeting due to the confidential nature of the information to be discussed. Following a review of the appellant's circumstances and the council's policy, the appeal was refused.

School Transport Appeal

The panel considered an appeal by applicant J.H.P. against the decision of the authority not to provide free school transport. The agenda stated that the report relating to this item was not for publication because it contained exempt information as defined in paragraph 12 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972¹, as amended by the Local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 2007². The panel unanimously agreed to exclude the public from the meeting during the discussion of this item, applying the public interest test. They acknowledged that while disclosure would promote transparency, the need to protect the applicant's and their family's identity outweighed the public interest in disclosure.

The panel reviewed the appellant's written representations, which contested the Stage 1 Review Panel's decision to deny J.H.P. free school transport to a school that was not the nearest or Local Education Authority (LEA) designated school for their home address. This meant that the application did not meet the criteria outlined in the council's policy for providing assistance.

The panel also considered the observations of departmental officers, along with the individual circumstances of the case.

Ultimately, the panel resolved to refuse the appeal, citing that J.H.P. was not attending the nearest or Local Education Authority designated school for the home address, due to parental preference, and that this was not in line with the Authority's Home to School Transport Policy.

Attendees at the meeting included Councillor Edward Thomas, Cabinet Member, Councillor Glynog Davies, Cabinet Member, and Councillor Llinos Mai Davies, as well as Councillor Dot Jones, Chair of Council. Council officers present included A. John, Assistant Solicitor, A. Evans, Operations Manager - Passenger Transport, K. Phillips, Passenger Transport Policy & Development Manager, E. Anthony, Senior School Admissions Officer, S. Rees, Simultaneous Translator, and E. Bryer, Democratic Services Officer.