A proposal to use Hertfordshire County Council’s adult care transport fleet for school drop-offs has been axed following consultation with service users and carers.

Councillors heard concerns raised during a formal consultation prompted the authority to abandon plans to expand the use of adult care vehicles for home-to-school transport.

The update was provided during a meeting of the council’s impact of scrutiny advisory committee. Jo Fisher, executive director of children’s services and education, said the proposal was originally explored as part of efforts to identify efficiencies within transport services.

However, she said feedback received during consultation highlighted significant concerns.

A school transport scheme has been scrapped by the county council

placeholder image — A school transport scheme has been scrapped by the county council

“As a result of the formal consultation, we have not progressed with that specific recommendation because of the potential impact on both adults and their carers and the significant concerns that they raised about the proposals,” she said.

The recommendation arose from a previous budget scrutiny exercise. While the council has stepped back from the original proposal, Ms Fisher said officers continue to examine whether limited capacity within the fleet could still be used to support some home-to-school transport requirements.

“That is ongoing action that is in hand,” she said. The work was carried out jointly by children’s services and adult care teams. Transport costs remain a significant pressure on local authority budgets, particularly in relation to SEND transport and specialist provision.

Councillors were told the scrutiny recommendation had effectively been completed because the council had carried out the consultation and reached a decision on the proposal.

Members agreed to sign off the recommendation. The discussion also touched on recent changes to post-16 personal transport budgets, although no further debate took place on the issue.