Taxi Driver Online

Child safety fears raised after contracted council workers warn of potential taxi danger




We can reveal that registered drivers awarded lucrative tenders to ferry kids to and from school transfer work to unauthorised drivers.

One contracted worker said that if an accident were to happen while an unauthorised driver was at the wheel, it could land a lot of people in hot water

A group of contracted council workers have warned that the safety of school children who use the school run taxi service could be at risk.

The Irvine Herald can reveal claims that registered drivers who have been awarded lucrative tenders to ferry children to and from school regularly transfer work to unauthorised drivers who are given a percentage payment in return.

This week, a council spokesman insisted that rigorous measures are in place to ensure proper practice in delivering the school taxi run service, adding that the council was not aware of any incidents of unauthorised drivers employed in school runs.

However, one contracted worker said that registered drivers and companies have been passing on jobs “for years”, with some drivers using vehicles that aren’t marked as taxis. When asked why there had been no complaints made by parents, the worker said: “They don’t check. So long as a car comes to collect their kids in the morning, they don’t bother. But if an accident were to happen while an unauthorised driver was at the wheel, it could land a lot of people in hot water.”

In the last year, North Ayrshire Council has issued school contracts worth £1,691,590. Tenders for school contracts are advertised every four years on the Public Contracts Scotland portal, with taxi companies who meet minimum requirements awarded a Framework Agreement. Contracts are then awarded via the agreements based on terms including best value, continuity of service, compliance with contract requirements, and the needs of children.

Tenders are open to registered licence holders, for example, taxi licence, private hire licence, and also operators with private cars, but only where they hold the correct classification of insurance.

But a number of examples were given to the Herald of drivers taking part in school runs who neither had the relevant insurance nor held taxi licences. The unauthorised drivers in question are also reported to carry no disclosure documentation and don’t even possess photographic ID badges.

One concerned worker said: “It’s all a matter of convenience. Let’s say you have a registered driver who earns £100 from a particular run, and one morning they have a more lucrative job on. What they’ll do is arrange for someone to do the school run, pay them £40, and keep the £60 for themselves. So long as the job gets done, no-one asks any questions. This has been going on for years.

“It’s true that there are measures in place, but it’s all tick-box stuff, which rarely sees any follow-up checks or monitors. And while there have been no major incidents so far, it only takes one to happen, and who knows what the consequences will be. The bottom line is that there is an incredibly loose process within the school contract service, and considering that a significant number of children use the service and the amount of money the council spends on contracts, it really should be a much tighter process than it is.”

North Ayrshire Council confirmed that drivers and escorts are required to wear photographic ID badges “at all times” while conducting a contract or ad hoc journey on behalf of the council. A spokeswoman added that drivers and escorts “must be authorised to work as a driver and escort for a maximum two year period” from their PVG’s (Disclosure Scotland) date of issue.
However, the group of workers dismissed the council’s assertions as “rubbish”, with one member telling the Herald reporter: “If you knew a registered driver and they trusted that you were a decent driver, you could easily be handed a job or two no problem. When you think about it, it’s quite worrying to think that parents don’t know exactly who’s taking their kids to school.”

Following the claims, North Ayrshire Council was asked whether heads of services were aware of any improper practice, and whether there would be a full investigation carried out to assert whether standards and regulations had been breached.

A spokesman for the council said: “North Ayrshire Council has robust controls in place around the provision of taxi services for school children.

“Contractors are prohibited from transferring, assigning or sub-contracting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, to any person or persons whatever, any portion of the contract without the written permission of the Council. We have no knowledge of unauthorised drivers being temporarily handed school runs by those who hold school run tenders. Contractors are made fully aware of the contract terms and are aware of the robust controls in place.”

source: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local ... er-4452055

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

So..they are neither Taxi Drivers or PH drivers because if they were they'd all have Disclosure Scotland certificates in order to have a PH or Hack License and that means they shouldn't be driving a Hack or PH vehicle or indeed any vehicle for reward fullstop.

The Disclosure Scotland PVG is a complete nonsense and seems no more than money grabbing exercise but probably just down to inept council departments who can't or won't communicate with each other.

1. You don't require a PVG check to drive a taxi or PH but if you are a taxi driver you can pick up any child or vulnerable adult at any time day or night.
2. PVG does not disclose most spent convictions.
3. On applying for a taxi driver licence you must declare all convictions - non are considered spent.
4. You can be and some applicants have been charged with fraud for failing to declare, even a 10 yr old speeding ticket.
4. As a licensed taxi driver if you then tender for a council contract they then insist on you paying £59 quid for a PVG check which will tell them only some of the convictions you have already declared in you taxi license application.

But it ticks some jobs worth boxes who then doesn't need two months paid leave due to the stress of it all. Bless.

The whole licence renewal exercise is a farce.

The council asks you to declare convictions which you have already declared. Are they unable to keep an accurate record?

Fact is, each alleged renewal of a licence is in fact an application for a new licence as if from scratch.

_________________
Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"