Taxi Driver Online

November 27, 2007 Tuesday

Council on road to £800k saving

York press

HUNDREDS of thousands of pounds are set to be saved in York, thanks to a major review of community transport.

City of York Council looks set to save more than £800,000 over the two-and-a-half year lifespan of its transport review project, with further savings of more than £650,000 a year after that.

The review is being carried out by consultants Northgate Kendric Ash in partnership with the council and covers transport arrangements for vulnerable children and adults; children getting to and from schools; and people with disabilities. It aims to determine how the council can get the most out of its fleet of vehicles, and how working with other organisations can provide affordable and effective ways to meeting community transport needs.

So far the project has led to the establishment of a framework of 33 taxi and bus suppliers, and the use of a software system that enables the council to select the most cost-effective fare on any given route, generating savings of 20 per cent on taxi journeys paid for by the council.

Simon Wing, of Northgate Kendric Ash, said: "The initial progress has been very encouraging and we have been able to deliver significant savings for the council, but not at the expense of the quality of service provided to the community.

"The changes introduced so far have been very well received and we hope to build on this success over the next couple of years to deliver savings of between ten and 20 per cent on the total cost of providing community transport, which is around £6.4 million per year."

Bill Hodson, the council's director of housing and adult social services, is overseeing the review.

He said: "The council has entered into a long-term partnership with a company with a successful track record in achieving efficiencies in community transport.

"We are already seeing the benefits and this is demonstrated by the changes that have enabled us to provide improved services in a more cost-effective way."

Among the changes already introduced are at Applefields School, where two new drivers and two escorts have been appointed so more children can travel to school together, rather than being driven in individually.
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Why do they need software when all they need is a tender process?

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IDFIMH