Cheshire East Council have announced a one-year postponement of any decision on the future of subsidised home-to-school transport for faith schools and post-16 pupils.
At Monday's Cabinet meeting, Councillor Hilda Gaddum proposed an option to withdraw transport to faith primary and secondaries to new pupils from September 2012, withdraw post-16 transport for new pupils from September 2012 and increase the parental contribution for denominational transport by five per cent from £299 to £314 per year.
The proposal from the Cabinet member with responsibility for children and family services was seconded by Council Leader Councillor Wesley Fitzgerald.
However, as a result of members of the public and visiting councillors speaking out against the plans, Councillor Fitzgerald announced an unusual step and adjourned the meeting for five minutes to consult with Councillor Gaddum and director of children and family services Lorraine Butcher.
On his return, Councillor Fitzgerald announced the postponement of part of the decision relating to the withdrawal of transport but said: "We will be implementing the five per cent charge on the subsidy. That will be effective from September 2011.
"This means that parents will contribute £314 from September, instead of the current £299. This reflects the current rate of five per cent inflation."
Councillor Hilda Gaddum withdrew her original proposal and the packed meeting broke out into spontaneous applause.
After the meeting Councillor Gaddum said: "This consultation, I know, has been challenging and difficult and I would like to thank all those who have taken the time to contribute.
"Throughout the consultation period, I have listened to and considered carefully all the concerns that have been raised.
"I would particularly like to thank those who took time to attend the Cabinet meeting today, at which, in response to the views expressed and the points raised, we agreed to pause for one year to consider a difficult task even further.
"I hope that the outcome of today's meeting demonstrates clearly that we do listen to all views. I very much hope that the further work that will be undertaken will lead to a positive outcome."
Councillor Frank Keegan said "The decision to defer this transport decision is really welcome. It is a victory for common sense, and is a great victory for people power.
"In hindsight, we might come to reflect that the big society has started. The public turned up to Scrutiny meetings, they made their feelings known and the Cabinet proposal which was seconded by the Leader had to be withdrawn. As the Leader said in the meeting, this is the first time Cabinet has had to change its mind actually in a meeting. I think that is very much the future for local Government.
"The Prime Minister has made it possible for the public to keep a track of Council spending over £500 and gradually, the public will be more aware of the power which the Prime Minister has given them. We have exciting times ahead."
The proposals put before Cabinet followed unprecedented financial challenges facing councils. Cheshire East Council needs to find savings of about £50m over the next few years, as a consequence, the budget for Home to School Transport is being reviewed and the Children and Families Directorate is expected to find savings from it of approximately £1m over forthcoming years.
In 2010/11 the cost to the Council of providing transport to faith schools was on average £1097 per pupil. The Council currently charges parents £299 per child, a second child from the same household at the same rate and all other children travel free. There are currently 685 pupils, which represents 1.37% of the 5-16 school population, who receive subsidised school transport at a net cost to the Council of £512,000.
There are currently 1003, 16-19 students receiving subsidised transport to colleges or sixth forms attached to mainstream schools.
