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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| £330 sixth form bus charge attack | £330 sixth form bus charge attack |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Some students in Swansea may have to pay £330 a year to travel back and forth to sixth form or college. | Some students in Swansea may have to pay £330 a year to travel back and forth to sixth form or college. |
| City councillors will later consider introducing means testing for bus services currently provided for free. | City councillors will later consider introducing means testing for bus services currently provided for free. |
| The cut back is blamed on a lack of Welsh Assembly Government funding and could save over £200,000 a year. | The cut back is blamed on a lack of Welsh Assembly Government funding and could save over £200,000 a year. |
| But it is claimed it will limit course choices for some and hit many Welsh speaking students as there are just two Welsh medium comprehensive schools. | But it is claimed it will limit course choices for some and hit many Welsh speaking students as there are just two Welsh medium comprehensive schools. |
| At present those enrolled on post-16 education are entitled to a free bus pass if they live three miles or more from their sixth form or college. | At present those enrolled on post-16 education are entitled to a free bus pass if they live three miles or more from their sixth form or college. |
| Under the plans due to be discussed by full council only those entitled to free school meals will no longer have to pay. | Under the plans due to be discussed by full council only those entitled to free school meals will no longer have to pay. |
| Others face a bill of £330 each academic year no matter how far they travel but it is proposed it could be paid in termly instalments. | Others face a bill of £330 each academic year no matter how far they travel but it is proposed it could be paid in termly instalments. |
| "Financial pressures" | "Financial pressures" |
| If approved the charges will be phased in from September. | If approved the charges will be phased in from September. |
| Cabinet member for education Mike Day said the provision of transport for pupils over the age of 16 was not something local authorities had to provide or pay for. | Cabinet member for education Mike Day said the provision of transport for pupils over the age of 16 was not something local authorities had to provide or pay for. |
| The situation varies from council to council in Wales, Monmouthshire means tests students, while Bridgend does not. | The situation varies from council to council in Wales, Monmouthshire means tests students, while Bridgend does not. |
| It will mean that those pupils travelling longer distances, perhaps going to a Welsh language sixth form, will be hit hardest Coun Rene Kinzett | It will mean that those pupils travelling longer distances, perhaps going to a Welsh language sixth form, will be hit hardest Coun Rene Kinzett |
| Mr Day said the proposals for means testing had been included in responses to consultation on previous plans to bring free post-16 transport to an end across the board. | Mr Day said the proposals for means testing had been included in responses to consultation on previous plans to bring free post-16 transport to an end across the board. |
| "There is no secret that, due to increasing costs and a lower than inflation settlement from the Welsh Assembly Government, there are significant financial pressures on Swansea council, just as there are with many other local authorities," he said. | "There is no secret that, due to increasing costs and a lower than inflation settlement from the Welsh Assembly Government, there are significant financial pressures on Swansea council, just as there are with many other local authorities," he said. |
| "We have to balance the need to protect spending on the front-line education services like classrooms and areas that are discretionary. | "We have to balance the need to protect spending on the front-line education services like classrooms and areas that are discretionary. |
| "We appreciate the pressures on families at this difficult time and that's why we are looking to ensure that those people most in need of free post-16 transport will continue to get support." | "We appreciate the pressures on families at this difficult time and that's why we are looking to ensure that those people most in need of free post-16 transport will continue to get support." |
| Limited choice | Limited choice |
| He said the £330 was still "a heavily discounted rate" equivalent to £1.74 a day. | He said the £330 was still "a heavily discounted rate" equivalent to £1.74 a day. |
| But the move is being opposed by some councillors. | But the move is being opposed by some councillors. |
| Plaid Cymru's Darren Price said: "While I recognise that moves have been undertaken to introduce an element of means testing into the system, it does mean that those families just above the threshold will be paying around £300 a year extra. | |
| "At a time when families across Swansea are facing very difficult financial times this is a blow that they could do without." | |
| Conservative group leader Rene Kinzett said: "The effect of ending free transport for these 16-18 year olds will be to limit choice and unfairly discourage pupils from doing the courses they really want to pursue. | Conservative group leader Rene Kinzett said: "The effect of ending free transport for these 16-18 year olds will be to limit choice and unfairly discourage pupils from doing the courses they really want to pursue. |
| "It will also mean that those pupils travelling longer distances, perhaps going to a Welsh language sixth form, will be hit hardest." | "It will also mean that those pupils travelling longer distances, perhaps going to a Welsh language sixth form, will be hit hardest." |
| An assembly government spokesman said: "There is no entitlement by law for post 16 students to receive free transport to and from a place of learning, however many local authorities and further education institutions voluntarily provide support for travel or arrange transport for post 16 learners." | An assembly government spokesman said: "There is no entitlement by law for post 16 students to receive free transport to and from a place of learning, however many local authorities and further education institutions voluntarily provide support for travel or arrange transport for post 16 learners." |