The County Council’s Director of Children’s Services, Matt Dunkley, said: “We have listened carefully to the representations made during the consultation and hope to find a solution that is acceptable both to the church authorities and ourselves. For that reason I am recommending that the Cabinet meeting on 1 May defers making a decision so that we can have further discussions with the churches.”
Frank Myers, Deputy Director of the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton Catholic Schools Service said: “We would welcome the opportunity for further discussion on this sensitive issue. We similarly hope that we can reach an agreement on a way forward that is acceptable to us both.”
Jeremy Taylor, Director of Education at the Anglican Diocese of Chichester said: “We would also welcome this chance for further discussion and are very willing to be part of the same process of seeking an agreement which is acceptable to all parties.”
Notes to editors
East Sussex County Council has been carrying out a consultation exercise asking residents in the county for their views on pupil transport to denominational schools. These are church schools where the ownership of the buildings rests with the relevant church. Currently the council gives children going to these schools free transport where the distance is over three miles and the child or parent is of that faith. The consultation has been asking residents their views on whether these arrangements should continue. The consultation ended on 30 March 2007, and recommendations were due to be considered by Cabinet on 1 May. Instead Cabinet will now be asked to defer making a decision to allow further discussion with the diocesan authorities.
For details of the report that will be considered by Cabinet see agenda item 7 for the Cabinet meeting on 1 May.
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