Walsall school travel facing the axe

Young people who attend faith schools will not get bus passes under the council's cost-cutting measures.

It is also planned to restrict travel funding for families who send a child with special needs to a school out of the borough which is not recommended by the council.

Transport for children from school to respite providers could also be removed in an overall bid to save £95,000 over the next two years. There are eight faith schools in Walsall. The cuts will only affect new pupils.

The council is having to make £29 million worth of savings during this financial year.

Members of the decision-making cabinet are due to approve the school travel cuts when they meet on Wednesday.

The removal of passes will not apply to families who receive free school meals or working tax credit.

A report from Darrell Harman, head of children's commissioning, said: "This report seeks cabinet approval to implement budget proposals to reduce expenditure by removing discretionary bus passes for pupils who choose to attend faith schools, reduce expenditure on children with special educational needs attending schools outside of the borough and remove travel assistance between school and respite care.

"The council will continue to meet its statutory requirements and obligations."

It adds: "Analysis of the risk has been undertaken and some of the changes will be implemented in a phased way to support families until their children achieve statutory school leaving age at 16.

"If these proposals are agreed they will deliver savings as part of overall budget reductions by the council."

It comes as overall budget proposals are due to be agreedat full council later this month. Bosses have recently revised the budget plan, cutting almost £1.6m from the £86m initially needed in savings projected over the next four years.

Plans to cut funding to community associations have been axed while moves to charge £28 for garden waste collections have been dropped after 70 per cent of people who took part in a consultation said they would not pay. The amount of money being clawed back from grass cutting, parks and grounds maintenance in 2015/16 has been reduced from £362,708 to £135,383.

At Walsall New Art Gallery, no jobs will be lost, but vacant posts will not be filled saving the council £5,367.