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| Suffolk school contracts cancelled over costs and shortages http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=38701 |
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| Author: | StuartW [ Tue Sep 13, 2022 11:28 am ] |
| Post subject: | Suffolk school contracts cancelled over costs and shortages |
'Hugely frustrating': School children impacted by cancelled taxi contracts https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/education/c ... ts-9269298 Some children across Suffolk have been left without transport to school after a number of taxi firms cancelled their contracts with Suffolk County Council. Taxi firms say they have made the decision as a result of rising fuel bills and staff shortages. Prior to the start of term on September 5, 39 contracts were handed back, affecting an estimated 120 children and young people. It is believed a number of these children are in need of SEND (special education needs and disability). Kelly Smith is a single parent who lives in Beccles with her three autistic children. Two of them, aged seven, attend school in Norwich. "Two weeks ago, I was told a certain taxi company would take my children to school," she said. "But then they backed out. "My sons aren't getting their education and I've had to home school them. "I even rented a car for four days just so I could get them there. That cost me over £100 to do. "I feel like I'm banging my head against a wall. It's unacceptable." Rachel Hood, cabinet member for education, SEND and skills at Suffolk County Council, said: “This is an unprecedented situation and we continue to do everything we can to find replacement travel for children and young people. “It has been hugely frustrating for those families affected, especially during the first week of a new school year. "We are now meeting with taxi companies to understand how best we avoid this happening again, while recognising the pressures they currently face.” Suffolk County Council now says it has managed to reduce the number of children affected to 18 as of last week. The council says they have a mechanism for reimbursing families who take their own children to school. If you are able to take your child to school or you have a relative who can then they will reimburse you at a rate of 45p per mile. Jack Abbott, former Labour Party education spokesman at Suffolk County Council, said: “'To have all this upheaval at the start of a new school term will have added to an already stressful time. “Though a relatively small number of taxi firms have withdrawn their services so far, cost pressures will continue to cause issues for many businesses for the foreseeable future. "It is important that the situation is urgently reviewed to prevent other firms handing back their contracts, which would leave more families being left in the lurch.” |
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| Author: | grandad [ Tue Sep 13, 2022 11:57 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Suffolk school contracts cancelled over costs and shorta |
Pay them more. Simples. |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Tue Sep 13, 2022 8:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Suffolk school contracts cancelled over costs and shorta |
I think part of the problem is the tendering process or could be the tendering process. I suspect the council tendered out many runs to different operators, and those operators tendered for as many runs as possible. Some operators would have been successful and gained many runs, but might have only a certain number of cars, so would have kept the most lucrative, and sent back the rest. |
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| Author: | edders23 [ Wed Sep 14, 2022 7:56 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Suffolk school contracts cancelled over costs and shorta |
I have been pestered daily for the last 6 weeks by one such person he is a one man band and basically tenders for everything and is then scratching around finding drivers to cover the contracts he even phoned me yesterday asking me to cover one because someone let him down. I don't have a schools contract badge (Lincolnshire contract) he was very disappointed when I reminded him of that 
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