Taxi Driver Online

Obviously doesn't know how vast majority of cab firms are organised

But raises interesting technical question in school contract context - does an office using a self-employed driver to do school runs amount to sub-contracting?


'I am giving my son to people I don't know' - parents' fears over taxi firms sub-contracting school runs

https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/suff ... -1-6031932


Image: Ipswich Star/Sarah Lucy Brown

Concerns have been raised about how children with special needs can be taken to school by taxi companies that sub-contract all of their work to self-employed drivers.

Suffolk County Council has said that companies taking children to school should sub-contract their work “only in emergency situations”.

But Quick Cab Services Ltd. in Ipswich uses self-employed drivers to carry out its work, with some parents concerned they have less knowledge about who is responsible for their children's transport.

A council spokesman reassured parents that every transport operator it works with is licensed – and that those operators only use licensed drivers.

But Julian Coates, whose four-year-old son William is among the youngest children at Hillside Special School in Sudbury, said: “I am giving my son to people I don't know. I am giving them my pride and joy – I worship the ground he walks on.

“If anything happens, who do I blame? If you are going to take responsibility, you should drive that taxi. So when I have a problem I know who I am talking to.”

Mr Coates said he would prefer William to be looked after by a company with a fleet of cabs – as he feels there would be more clear and consistent contact between parent and driver.

“I am going by somebody else telling me something,” he said.

“I don't know what's going on. It needs a common sense approach to this.”

Mr Coates said he was already frustrated with his son's transport situation, as William's daily three-hour round trip frequently leaves him exhausted.

A council spokesman said: “Whilst we do not comment on individual cases, we can reassure parents that every transport operator we work with is licenced and uses licenced drivers who are also registered with Suffolk County Council.”

Quick Cab Services Ltd. has been contacted for comment.

Good luck with finding that.

But do councils ever make that kind of stipulation when awarding contracts?

Concerned about whom is taking your children to school?

Take them yourself then.

_________________
Former taxi driver

Many of our contract require a regular driver and if required a regular escort.

_________________
Grandad,

My Council stipulate it has to be a named driver or escort if required,but an independent TAXI proprietor/driver(self employed) will be awarded a contract,as will the private hire vehicle proprietor/driver(self employed) if they hold an operator license in their own right.

Yes.

_________________
IDFIMH

Two options.

Take the kid to school yourself and save the tax payer 1000s of £s, or invite the driver in for a coffee and build up a relationship with them.

_________________
IDFIMH

And I would be amazed if this isn't what happens in this case, despite the fella in the article bellyaching to the press over something that hasn't happened, and will not happen.

I suspect the old contractor is winding him up, and the fella has taken the bait hook line and sinker.

_________________
IDFIMH

In a lot of contracts here it stipulates that a meet is arranged before the contract is awarded.

_________________
Grandad,