Newham Council is exploring the use of bicycles for families to reduce rising home-to-school transport costs. This initiative was presented as one measure to reduce overspending during a recent Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting.
Laura Eden, Corporate Director for Children and Young People Services, informed the committee of the pilot programme during a discussion about the council's budget. Councillor Lakmini Shah, Chair of Education, Children and Young People Services scrutiny commission, had raised concerns about the increasing costs of home-to-school transport, particularly the reliance on private taxis and the impact of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) on the budget.
Ms. Eden responded that the council is working to find creative solutions to reduce these costs, including a bicycle pilot program where they have bought bicycles for families, so that they can cycle with their child to school. We've actually got a pilot program at the moment, which is working really well,
she said. The council hopes that this initiative will not only cut transport expenses but also enhance the physical and mental well-being of the families involved.
As Newham Council seeks to deliver services more efficiently and sustainably, innovative solutions like the bicycle pilot program may play a crucial role. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting included discussion of the Summer Finance Review Cover Report here and the 2024-25 Financial Outturn Report here.
