AN ABERYSTWYTH councillor has rubbished a council objective to “help all children achieve the best educational outcomes” at the same time as a consultation is ongoing to charge post-16 pupils to travel to school.

Councillors were discussing the council’s Improvement Plan and obje­ctives for the 2015/16 at a full council meeting, when Cllr Ceredig Davies questioned an obje­ctive that says the county council wants to “improve the opportunities for all children and families to achieve the best educational outcomes and realise their potential”.

Council leader Ellen ap Gwynn said the future of post-16 travel costs was “not relevant” to the plan, as they would kick in in 2017, and not during the current financial year.

She said a decision to charge pupils has not yet been made, despite funding for the scheme having already being removed from the budget.

Cllr Davies said: “This is the council’s vision and priorities for the coming year and clearly they are ambitious.

“There’s a little bit of contradiction shown here as to what is in the plan and how the council operates – they don’t match up with each other."

Education Cabinet member Cllr Hag Harris said that after May a full report on the issue will be presented to members where a decision will be made.

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