Reform school taxi letter used as 'political football'

Reform UK council leader George Finch has said a letter he sent to the education secretary on school taxis in Warwickshire is being used as "political football".

He wrote seeking permission for councils to set their own rules over children's walking distances between home and school to save them money.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson accused Reform of dragging children "back to the Victorian era".

Finch, who sat in BBC CWR's hot seat on Friday, said he wrote the letter to get the "best deal" for vulnerable children.

The letter said analysis undertaken by council officers had suggested increasing the statutory distance could reduce the "eligible cohort", meaning pupils as young as eight could walk up to five miles to school.

But the council leader said that was not his intention.

He said: "People have said I want to increase [the statutory distance] to five miles. I don't. I never said I want to. All I did was a wrote a letter to Secretary of State asking for more devolved powers."

Councillor George Finch said his letter to the education secretary was to get vulnerable children "the best deal"

Finch said he was "disappointed" his letter was being used as "political football" to attack him and the council.

He said: "I come from a family in Bedworth that's not got much money. My sister has disabilities and SEND needs - I get it and the hardships families are facing.

"What I feel is really unfair is that our most vulnerable children are not getting the best service being taken to school and back as there are so many other children getting it."

Warwickshire County Council currently transports more than 10,000 pupils to their school settings and it pays 200 individual private transport companies for the service, Finch said.

Some 2,500 of those children have disabilities and special needs, but the 7,500 children who do not and live more than three miles away from their schools need a "better option", he said.

"Why can't we invest more in buses? Maybe their parents take them to the local town hall and instead of getting in a taxi one by one, maybe they all get on a school bus - there's so many innovative options we can look at - and it's not a negative thing.

"We have to make sure they get there in a cost effective away."

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson accused Reform of taking children back to the "Victorian era"

'Adult social care underfunded'

Speaking on adult social care, the councillor said the Labour government needed to "step up" to help the county's vulnerable residents.

"It's constant underfunding. They talk about giving local people more power, but they're not funding people to do it. It's ridiculous."

Finch said the county council currently spent £200m a year on adult social care, with providers currently quoting £1,000 a week.

He said: "We have found out it can be done at £500, and providers are bumping up the price.

"There has been an allowance to let contractors get that way because its easier.

"We're looking with our partners on the ICB, other charities and voluntary sector workers who can support us.

"Instead of paying big private companies who are national, why don't we look at a more local charity or volunteers that can support us on a grassroots level."

Responding to comments about his election at the age of 19, he said the job was "high pressure" but "we work together as a team".

He said: "People are going to have a go - it's water off a ducks back for me. I'm here to make sure we get the best deal in Warwickshire.

He said his election showed the people of Warwickshire "want that innovative fresh change and that's what I can provide".

The BBC has contacted the Labour Party and the Department for Health and Social Care for a response to Finch's comments.