Agenda item - Home to School Transport for Pupils with Special Needs and Other Social Care Transport Contract

Report of the Executive Director Families, Children & Learning (copy attached)

RESOLVED: That the Committee –

(i)            Approved the procurement of a contract for home to school transport for pupils with special educational needs and other transport for vulnerable children and adults on behalf of social care teams, for a term of four years from 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2023;

(ii)          Granted delegated authority to the Executive Director of Families, Children & Learning to carry out the procurement and award of the contract referred to in Paragraph 2.1 above including the award and letting of the framework agreement.

64.1    The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Families Children & Learning which sought approval for the procurement of a contract to provide for home to school transport to pupils with special educational needs, and other hired transport for vulnerable children and adults on behalf of social care teams.

64.2    Councillor Wealls asked if the specification had been drawn up, and was advised by the Head of School Organisation that it was still in draft form, and whilst the time scales may be delayed slightly the contract would be in place by September 2019. Councillor Wealls noted that the engagement with interested parties would take place after the Invitations to Tender had gone out, and suggested it would be preferable to engage with interested parties beforehand. The Head of School Organisation said that there had been engagement and regular contact with interested parties about the current arrangements, and confirmed that the specification would be assessed before going to tender. Councillor Wealls said it would have been useful to see the dialogue with interested parties in the report, and hoped that any feedback would be reflected in the contract. The Executive Director Families Children & Learning apologised that it was not in the report, but confirmed that there had and would be dialogue with interested parties.

64.3    Councillor Sykes noted the cost was approximately £2.45m per year for 370 students and asked why it was so high. The Executive Director Families Children & Learning said that Brighton & Hove City Council were not a high-spend authority per child, but it did have to provide some very specialist transport which was expensive and that increased the cost.

64.4    RESOLVED: That the Committee –

(i)            Approved the procurement of a contract for home to school transport for pupils with special educational needs and other transport for vulnerable children and adults on behalf of social care teams, for a term of four years from 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2023;

(ii)          Granted delegated authority to the Executive Director of Families, Children & Learning to carry out the procurement and award of the contract referred to in Paragraph 2.1 above including the award and letting of the framework agreement.