The Appeals Sub-Committee (School Transport) of Wiltshire Council met on Wednesday 4 March 2026 to consider a school transport appeal. The committee decided to grant discretionary transport provision in the form of bus passes for both a Year 7 and a Year 9 child, departing from the council's standard policy.

School Transport Appeal

The committee considered and determined a school transport appeal. The panel accepted the officer's report, which stated there was no lawful obligation to provide free home-to-school transport to the current school, as it was not the nearest suitable school for either child. However, the panel then considered whether personal or exceptional circumstances warranted a departure from policy and the exercise of the local authority's discretionary power.

For the Year 7 child, the panel agreed to use its discretionary power to provide transport from the address at the time of the appeal to the school for the remainder of the 2025-2026 academic year via a bus pass. Similarly, for the Year 9 child, the panel agreed to exercise its discretionary power to provide transport from the address at the time of the appeal to the school for the remainder of the child's attendance at the secondary school, up to the completion of GCSEs in Year 11, also by means of a bus pass.

The meeting was attended by Councillors Allison Bucknell, Peter Wragg, and Chris Vaughan. Councillor Allison Bucknell was elected as Chairman for the appeal. The meeting was held in private session to discuss the appeal, in accordance with section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, due to the likely disclosure of exempt information. The minutes of the previous meeting held on 9 December 2025 were approved. The meeting lasted from 10:00 am to 11:10 am.

You can find the agenda for this meeting here: Agenda frontsheet Wednesday 04-Mar-2026 10.00 Appeals Sub-Committee School Transport. The minutes of the meeting are available here: Printed minutes Wednesday 04-Mar-2026 10.00 Appeals Sub-Committee School Transport.