What is a Vacant Seat:

• offers the option to buy a spare seat on existing council school contract vehicles
• they will only be offered for existing routes and from existing boarding points
• we cannot guarantee that the seat will always be available, if the seat is required for an eligible rider
• you should not rely on the service and should have alternative travel options available 
• a contribution is required for all Vacant Seats – transport will be ceased if no payment is received

How and when are Vacant Seats allocated

• vacant seats can only be awarded once all eligible riders have been allocated their seat
• they will not be allocated until the beginning of September and cannot be guaranteed to be offered before the start of term
• contracts are linked to specific schools although it may be possible to utilise a vehicle if the route is close to another school
  • however, the council cannot accept responsibility for transporting the child if the school the contract serves is closed 
• applications on the Vacant Seat Payment Scheme waiting list are ranked according to the priority order of criteria and not on a first-come first-served basis:
  • resident in county
  • previously used the service (and had a vacant seat withdrawn)
  • siblings already travelling on the service
  • attendance at designated school
  • availability of alternative public transport services
  • attending the nearest establishment
  • living over 3 miles from the establishment (but not the designated establishment)
  • date of application – this is only considered if all other criteria are equal

No commitment is given to provide students under the scheme with continuous transport assistance as priority is given to eligible students requiring transport on specific services.

If spaces on a contracted coach or taxi service are required for eligible students then vacant seats will be withdrawn.

The decision to withdraw a Vacant Seat will normally be based on the last seat allocated being the first to be withdrawn; the Authority will provide a minimum of 7 days notice in writing of it’s intention to withdraw a Vacant Seat and a pro rata refund will be issued.