Home to School Transport policies shortlisted for UK award -
14/09/06
The Vale of Glamorgan Council's Home to School Transport
policies have been shortlisted for a UK-wide award.
Devised following the tragic accident at Ystradowen in which
Cowbridge schoolboy David Cunningham Jones lost his life, the
policies and procedures won an all-Wales award in May of this
year.
The judges of the Welsh awards, appointed by the Chartered
Institute of Logistics and Transport UK, praised the Vale for its
success in tackling a wide range of issues.
The Council response of the Council to the inquest findings
following the accident was to establish a consultative group
consisting of officers, parents, bus operators, school governors,
headteachers and representatives from the Welsh Assembly Government
to carry out a root and branch review of all practices and
procedures.
This led to the introduction of new initiatives aimed at
eradicating bad behaviour on buses, and the Council’s comprehensive
approach has resulted in the introduction of CCTV on a number of
buses, the provision of a seat for every child on school buses, the
introduction of clear rules to deal with unacceptable behaviour
and, where necessary, the exclusion of pupils from school
buses.
The Council takes pains to ensure that all these policies and
procedures are relayed to schools, operators and parents, and, in
addition, driver and operator awareness training and on site
training for schoolchildren have been established.
At the all-Wales award ceremony at Cardiff Castle, Cllr A J
Williams, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for
Planning and Transportation, paid fulsome tribute to all those who
had willingly undertaken the considerable work which had resulted
in the excellent progress undertaken by the Council.
The Council has just been advised that it is a finalist in the
UK-wide Institute Awards which are to be presented in October by
HRH The Princess Royal at a ceremony in London next month.
Cllr Williams added: "I am pleasantly surprised and. indeed,
delighted that the work undertaken by the Council and our partners
has been widely recognised.
"The Council has been innovative in its approach to reviewing
school transport procedures and it is now seen as an exemplar of
current practice in Wales.
"Naturally I am gratified our efforts have achieved national
recognition and I would like to record my thanks to Rob Thomas,
Head of Planning and Transportation, the other Council officers
involved as well as our valued partners in this success story.
"We await with interest the outcome of the national finals in
London."