Agenda item

Report ACH20015

In July 2019 (Report ECHS 19041), Executive agreed to proceed to procurement for a multi-provider framework contract for Passenger Transport Services for both children and adults.  The report, to be read in conjunction with the corresponding Part 2 report, set out the results of the tendering process and sought approval to award framework contracts to multiple providers for the delivery of Transport Services, via call off contract and mini-tender arrangements from the framework.  The proposed framework would commence from 1 September 2020 for a five year period with the option to extend for up to a further two years.  The estimated annual value of the framework was £7m (whole life value £49m).

In response to a question, the SEN Transport Project Manager confirmed that the service had never found itself in the position where it was unable to deliver a service, although there were sometimes issues with availability near the end of the academic year, particularly the availability of services for children with more complex needs. However the requirement for transport was always met by the service.

The Committee noted that the proposal was for resources to be efficiently utilised and shared between adults and children’s services however, adults would not travel with children, except in the case where young adults (e.g. 18/19 year olds) were travelling to educational provision.  The Director of Education stressed that the Council would not compromise the safety of vulnerable adults and children however the use of the transport buses would be maximised.

Members also noted that the contract stipulated the requirement for continuity of staff.  It was recognised that sometimes staff would be absent from work for various reasons and this may impact on continuity of staffing however it was noted that staff would remain the same in an academic year wherever possible.

In response to a question the SEN Transport Project Manager confirmed that there were a range of travel assistance options available to parents, and reimbursement of parental mileage was one of these options for parents who chose to take their own children to school. However under DFE guidelines it was up to the parents as to whether they chose to take up this option.  

RESOLVED: That the Executive be recommended to

1. Approve award of contracts to the Transport Services framework to the providers detailed in Appendix 1 of the Part Two report, for the purpose of call-off contracts and mini-tender arrangements from the framework. The framework will commence from 1 September 2020 for five years with the option to extend for up to a further two years at an estimated overall annual value of £7m (estimated whole life value £49m);

2. With reference to paragraph 4.10, grant delegated authority to the Chief Officers for Adult and Children’s Services to secure additional capacity, as required, for transport provision through suitable compliant procurement routes, including refreshing the framework, subject to consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holders and Officers as determined by the Contract Procedure Rules;

3. Grant delegated authority to the Chief Officers for Adult and Children’s Services to approve the two year extension option for the framework, subject to consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holders and Officers as determined by the Contract Procedure Rules;

4. Agree that the additional costs of £363k in 2020/21 for SEN Transport from the outcome of tendering is met from the Council’s 2020/21 Central Contingency sum.

5. Note that any further cost pressures will be reviewed, including the identification of any mitigating actions, as part of the Children, Education and Families Transformation programme.

6. Note that the Adults transports additional costs will be contained within existing budgets.