Spare Seats Scheme: Oxfordshire parents hit out at council

In an Oxfordshire County Council meeting on Tuesday, Conservative councillor Eddie Reeves submitted a motion which addressed the Spare Seats Scheme withdrawal on eight bus routes.

The scheme allows parents who do not qualify for free home-to-school transport to pay for seats on buses where there is space.

READ MORE: Oxfordshire parents accuse council of 'democratic denial'

The withdrawal will impact 235 families from September.

The council previously stated they have “not withdrawn the spare seats scheme overall”.

But families received a letter in January about the withdrawal of routes which would significantly reduce the number of seats available.

School girl walks along busy road (Image: Contributed)

Before Tuesday’s council meeting, parents accused the council of denying their “democratic rights” after the number allowed to speak was strictly limited to three.

After a parents’ backlash, the chair of the council Susanna Pressel U-turned on the decision and allowed four parents to speak.

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Since the meeting, parents have hit out at council leader Liz Leffman and councillor Liz Brighouse for not “engaging” with what they were saying or “listening” to the “devastating effect” of withdrawing the scheme.

Charlotte Cusworth, a single parent from Chiselhampton, told the council: “Since receiving the council’s letter, I have been in complete despair, highly anxious and stressed.

“I’m worried about how I’m going to get my boys to school for the next ten years.

“The issue is simple but with devastating consequences for me.”

Ms Cusworth said Tuesday’s meeting was “the last chance to be heard” but was left disappointed.

She added: “I wasn’t impressed with Liz Brighouse on her phone.”

Councillors Liz Brighouse and Liz Leffman (Image: Contributed)

Ms Cusworth highlighted the scheme was “vital” in allowing her to work enough hours to “satisfy the requirements of universal credit”.

Ms Cusworth said:“I risk losing my business and my network of friends.”

Peter Walker previously accused the council of denying his “democratic rights” but spoke after a U-turn by Ms Pressel at the eleventh hour.

He said: “Liz Brighouse and Liz Leffman weren’t actively involved in listening to what I was saying.

“They heard what I said but I’m not sure they were listening."

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Ms Leffman and Ms Brighouse said: “We heard Charlotte’s speech loud and clear along with those from the other parents who came along to the meeting of full council yesterday.

“All councillors were impressed with the articulate way the speech was delivered and we took note of everything that was said.

Ms Leffman added: “Speakers were heard respectfully, and the issues raised registered with those at the meeting.

Ms Brighouse has said she was using her phone to take notes and follow the agenda.

At the point Ms Cusworth was speaking, Ms Brighouse has claimed she was checking the criteria in relation to the extended rights to free transport in relation to children on Universal Credit.

A council spokesman added: "As regards the 235 parents/children potentially affected, we continue to be in constructive dialogue and engagement with them about mitigations."