One for the school run people on here, although I doubt 'rationalisation' like this is particularly uncommon throughout the country.
And they're trying to make it sound like the kids will get better continuity with the MPVs, but I suspect the downsides of bigger vehicles will outweigh the benefits, and that it's all about cost-saving. And, I mean, if driver/escort continuity is an issue with single taxis, how will that be improved simply by using multi-seaters?
Taxis set to be scrapped for Stoke-on-Trent's special needs pupils to cut transport costs
https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/st ... ts-8060730
Stoke-on-Trent City Council wants to increase the use of multi people vehicles to bring SEN pupils to school
Council spending on school transport for pupils with special needs is set to be slashed by £570,000 – with minibuses replacing individual taxi journeys. Stoke-on-Trent City Council is planning to introduce a new system for booking transport for 400 special educational needs (SEN) children from September, in order to bring costs down and create a more 'bespoke' service for youngsters.
At the moment many SEN pupils get to school in single taxis, which council leaders believe is too expensive and often inappropriate. The council is now planning to increase the use of multi-people vehicles (MPVs) which will transport up to eight children to school at the same time, as well as adapted minibuses.
Renegotiations with contractors, including increasing the rate for MPVs and minibuses, is expected to save £200,000.
Other proposals include increasing transport charges for over-16s, which could raise £100,000, and £200,000 of efficiencies through better route scheduling and a 'dynamic purchasing system'. More expensive services will be brought in-house, saving a further £700,000.
The changes are being proposed as part of the council's budget for 2023/24. Janine Bridges, cabinet member for education and economy, told scrutiny committee members that the new system would deliver a better service for youngsters as well as savings.
She said: "This has been an item of overspend for some time, but that's not the only reason it needs to be reviewed. We also need a more bespoke service for some of the children with more complex needs. The demographic is changing and it's not fit for purpose.
"This is an invest to save. So we're going to invest in a dynamic purchasing system, with local providers where possible."
Ms Bridges added: "In the past we've used single taxis, and it's not been ideal. They've not been quite consistent – a taxi might come from a provider, but then if that person couldn't do it someone else would come, and so the child has not had that continuity.
"So we'll now be using more multi-people vehicles, with assistants on those vehicles to support the children to and from schools, which is obviously better."
Members of the children and family services overview and scrutiny committee questioned whether some SEN children would be able to handle longer journeys to and from school, and sharing vehicles with other pupils.
Councillor Lesley Adams said: "I know that some SEN children don't have great attentions spans, so will we have situations where we'll have children on a bus and it will take them longer to get home?"
Ms Bridges said it would not be a 'one size fits all' approach, and that MPVs would only be used with 'children who can cope with that situation'.
Lisa Lyons, director of children and family services, said the decisions on using MPVs would be risk-assessed, and that the council would typically group together children from the same geographic areas.
She added: "It's not a usual situation for children to be in single taxis to get to school. There is something about preparation for adulthood. Most children catch buses with their groups of friends. This is sort of an extension of that. We're not talking about large buses, we're talking about MPVs, so six, seven, eight at most."
The city council is carrying out a public consultation on £6.9 million of proposed budget cuts, which runs until February 13. A public consultation on the proposals runs until February 13. To view the draft budget and to have your say, visit https://www.stoke.gov.uk/budget2023