'Tough decision' as North Northamptonshire Council increases annual school transport cost from September

From the beginning of the next academic year, the annual cost for those who have to pay for school transport will be £965, a change from the current fee of £795 a year.

Despite the increase, council bosses say the per-head charge remains below the full cost of delivering the service.

For more than a decade the annual charge had largely remained unchanged with only relatively minor increases in recent years.

The authority says this has allowed a cost gap to develop to unsustainable levels, meaning the service is heavily subsidised.

Cllr Chris McGiffen, the council’s executive member for highways and travel, said: “This is a tough decision that we’ve had to make.

“For years the amount that was charged was not increased sufficiently and the amount it has been subsidised has just gone up and up to a point where the issue must be addressed.

“We are a listening council and I know that there may be some who find this increase hard.

"That’s why we have several measures in place to help mitigate this and I’d encourage people to have a look on our website and see what support is on hand.”

Discounts are available for siblings attending the same school and payment plans are also available, including a monthly payment option, provided that the full payment has been received by the end of the school year.

Being offered a place by a particular school does not mean that a child will automatically be entitled to travel assistance to that school.

The change in fees also includes those students going into Year 12 and above (known as post-16).

The three main local colleges (Tresham, Moulton and Northampton colleges) make their own arrangement for transport and charge fees consistent with the council’s.

More information is available on the council’s website or to contact the school travel team, click here.