Transport - getting around

Personal Transport Budget

Havering Council is expanding the existing fuel reimbursement option for travel assistance to include reimbursements for some of the other costs of private travel arrangements that parents/guardians have to make to ensure that their children attend school. This option used to be known as fuel reimbursement and it is limited to students with access to a family car and available driver. Personal Transport budget will be approved for students of all ages who meet eligible criteria for home to school transport services, and would like to make private transport arrangement that suits their family circumstances.

What is Personal Transport Budget?

The Personal Transport Budget is a form of travel assistance that provide students and their families the flexibility and independence to make their own home to school private travel arrangements. This option of Havering travel assistance will support students to maximise the use of other resources and existing support within their community, instead of relying on transport arrangements organised by the council.

In the instance where a parent/guardian, or an identified person, has been approved for a personal transport budget, £0.45 per mile allowances will be provided:

A maximum of 4 journeys can be applied for per day. The mileage distance is measured from a student’s home address to the school address using the shortest available route on an independent online route planner.

For example, if a student mileage distance is 5 miles, Personal transport budget will be calculated as follows:

Personal transport budget will be paid even when the student has to leave school early for any reason, however will only be paid for the miles calculated from home to school and vice versa. Also, there are certain instances where the above calculation may not be suitable. In these instances, a representative of CAD Transport will have discussions with parents/guardians and agree the appropriate personal transport budget to meet the child’s transport needs. The Council will collect proof of the student’s attendance at school/college before making payments, and personal transport budget cannot be claimed for journeys made outside of the agreed allowance.

Personal Transport Budgets can be used for any non-Council provided transport service. This means for, example, a public transport bus pass, commercially-provided closed school bus pass, a rail pass, etc.

There are several ways that Personal Transport Budget could be used, including:

• To pay for fuel and/or the cost of running a family vehicle that is used to transport a student to school.
• To pay towards the cost of booking a taxi or sharing a taxi with other students.
• To pay for another person to take or transport the student.
• To pay for another person to take a sibling to school to free a parent/guardian up to transport the student.
• To pay towards the cost of breakfast clubs or after school clubs, allowing the parent/guardian to transport the student.
• To pay towards the cost of travel passes for other children in the family so that they can travel to and from school, allowing the parent/guardian to transport the student.
• To pay for a travel pass for the student.
• To pay for childcare for another child to allow a parent/guardian to take the student to school.

• To join up transport options with other parents (e.g. car share), thereby encouraging a sense of community.

Conditions for using Personal Transport Budget

Parents/guardians are responsible for any private arrangements they have to make to ensure that their children attend school. Therefore, parents/guardians must comply with all relevant regulations and laws regarding Employment Law, Health and Safety regulations, Taxation laws, or any other legislation relevant to their personal circumstances. It is good practice for parents/guardians to undertake appropriate safeguarding checks such as ensuring that the person employed as part of making a private transport arrangement have a current Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) certificates or arrange for those checks if the person employed does not have one.

In situations where parents/guardians choose to use Personal Transport Budget to enter into a contractual agreement with organisations e.g. breakfast clubs, or individuals, parents/guardians would be responsible for compliance with the terms and conditions of such contracts.

Personal Transport Budget can only be used for home to school private travel arrangements. Personal Transport Budget cannot be used for any other purposes that does not support school attendance of the student.

Students with Education, Health and Care Plan, and living within the local area of Havering Council may apply for Personal Transport Budget due to the following:

1. The impact of the student’s special educational needs and disabilities on their ability to travel safely independently or with supervision
   1. If the student has temporary medical or mobility needs which mean they cannot reasonably be expected to travel safely independently or with supervision to school, and there is relevant supporting medical evidence ^{(see appendix for details point 1.4 on Havering Transport policy)}
   2. If the student has long-term medical or mobility needs which mean they cannot reasonably be expected to walk to school, and there is relevant supporting medical evidence ^{(see appendix for details point 1.4 on Havering Transport policy)}
   3. If the distance between the school and the home exceeds the statutory walking distance for a student that age and no suitable arrangement can be a made for a school closer to home ^{(see appendix for details point 1.5 on Havering Transport policy)}
   4. If the family is on low income and the distance between the school and the home exceeds the statutory walking distances ^{(see appendix for details point 1.5 on Havering Transport policy)}
   5. The assessed safety and nature of the route between the school and the home and the alternative routes available ^{(see appendix for details point 1.6 on Havering Transport policy)}
   6. Parent/guardian medical or mobility needs which mean they cannot reasonably be expected to transport the student to school, when the student cannot transport themselves, with relevant supporting medical evidence ^{(see appendix for details point 1.4 on Havering Transport policy)}

The Motability Scheme provides an affordable, worry-free way for people with disabilities to lease a car, scooter or powered wheelchair in exchange for their mobility allowance. The Scheme is operated by Motability Operations Ltd, under contract to Motability, a registered Charity.

Find out more on the Motability Scheme website. (Opens in new tab)

Taxicard offers subsidised travel in licensed taxis and private hire vehicles (mini cabs) to London residents with serious mobility impairments or who are severely sight impaired.

It enables members who have difficulty in using buses, trains and tubes to get out and about.

The scheme provides trips for social purposes, for example going shopping, visiting friends and family, and going out to events.

It is not suitable for time critical appointments, such as hospital visits, as it is dependent on the number of drivers available to take the bookings. Although every effort will be made to provide a vehicle on request.

Taxicard is funded by your local council and Transport for London. It is administered on their behalf by London Councils, with ComCab London providing taxis and private hire vehicles (mini cabs). 

For information on eligibility and the application process, please click the link below.

Taxicard Scheme (Opens in new tab)

Transport for London (TfL) provides free or discounted travel on London’s buses, tubes, DLR, Overground and National Rail services for children and young people aged 5-16, students over the age of 16 and apprentices over the age of 18 via an Oyster photocard. You have to be a resident in a London Borough to qualify for free travel via an Oyster photocard.

Apply for an Oyster photocard via the TfL website. (Opens in new tab)

Travel mentoring

Our free travel mentoring service supports people using public transport in and around London to become more confident and independent travellers. If you have a mobility requirement or a disability and want to try out our accessible transport options, we can help.

What our travel mentors offer

We can:

• Give advice by telephone and email to help plan an accessible route
• Provide a mentor to accompany you on your first few practice journeys to help you learn how to travel the network independently
• Assist you virtually, using apps available on most smartphones

Our travel mentors can help anyone who lives or travels in London. We cover all types of journey on TfL transport including bus, Tube, Elizabeth line, DLR, London Overground, tram, Thames Clipper river boats and the IFS Cloud Cable Car.

For more information on Travel Mentoring please visit the TfL website.

TfL Travel Mentoring (Opens in new tab)

The Blue Badge scheme helps you to park closer to your destination if you're disabled. Sometimes known as disabled parking permits, it can be used throughout the UK and while travelling abroad within the European Union (EU) and in some other European countries.

How to apply

1. Before applying for or renewing a Blue Badge please read the guidance notes.

Read the Blue Badge guidance notes.(Opens in new tab)

Please note if you are renewing, please apply 6-8 weeks prior to your existing badge expiring to make sure your new badge reaches you in time if approved.

1. Click on the link to 'Apply for or renew a Blue Badge' below to be taken to the GOV.UK website.
2. Make a note of the things you'll need before applying from the list on the GOV.UK page.
3. Click on the green 'Start now' button.
4. You'll be asked to check your eligibility and answer questions about your disability as you fill in the application form.
5. Once filled in your details will be sent to us to process.
6. You will be asked to send us all the documents stated in your application within 14 days of filling in the form. Please note your application will not be completed until we have received your certified copy documents which you can either email to bluebadges@havering.gov.uk or post to: Blue Badges, Town Hall, Main Road, Romford RM1 3BB
7. You will also get a tracking code sent to you so you can see the progress of your application. Go to the GOV.UK tracking page (Opens in new tab) to enter your code to track your application.
8. Once we have your documents we will make contact with you about the next steps to take including payment.

Apply for or renew a Blue Badge. (Opens in new tab)

Using your Blue Badge

For full details about the rules and responsibilities of Blue Badge holders, including displaying your badge and details about where you can park, please read our rights and responsibilities leaflet. (Opens in new tab)

Lost, stolen or damaged Blue Badge

If your existing blue badge has either been lost, stolen or damaged, you will need to apply online for a replacement blue badge.

Replace a lost or stolen Blue Badge.(Opens in new tab)

Need to change your Blue Badge details?

You can report a change of name, address, contact details or any other details relating to information held by your local authority in relation to you or the badge that has been issued to you.

Change details on a Blue Badge.(Opens in new tab)