Agenda item - Progress Report on Home to School Transport Service

Reort of the Executive Director Children families & Learning (copy attached)

22.1    The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Families Children & Learning which provided an update and progress report on the Home to School Transport service. The report was introduced by Interim Lead Home to School Transport, the Team Manager Home to School Transport, with additional comments from Ms D Boyd (PaCC).

22.2    Cllr O’Quinn noted that the Council were still trying to recruit for the positions of Head of Service and Contracts and Service Development Manager and asked how that was progressing. The Interim Lead Home to School Transport said that it was on-going although it was hoped that one position would shortly be filled shortly.

22.4    Cllr John noted that there had been a problem in recruiting Vehicle Passenger Assistants (VPA) and asked if that was being addressed. The Interim Lead Home to School Transport said that was an issue and seven VPAs had been recruited but only one was still in post. The position was not attractive as the hours were only at the start and end of the day, but the matter was being addressed and one plan was to target students when they returned to the universities later this month.

22.5    Cllr Lloyd asked if the e-learning training could be sold to other local authorities and was advised that the Council were looking into that and were currently in discussions with East Sussex County Council. 

22.6    Cllr Brown referred to the training for Operators - drivers and VPAs, and noted that there were four who had still complete the training and the deadline for that to be concluded was August 2021 and asked if that had now been completed. The Interim Lead Home to School Transport said they weren’t sure and would confirm after the meeting, but did say that operators had to have completed the training before undertaking the work.

22.7    Cllr Nield referred to social distancing in vehicles and asked what the current guidance was. The Interim Lead Home to School Transport said that the Government had never required social distancing on transport, but this Council took the decision to have quite stringent distancing and ensured that there was space in every vehicle. Some vehicles would have around 4-5 children and some with only one child, but every child would be risk assessed.

22.8    Cllr Grimshaw asked how many parents were using the online survey, and noted the ‘gold star’ status for staff completing their training quickly and asked how successful that had been. The Interim Lead Home to School Transport said the Council were promoting the survey and noted the feedback from parties. The ‘gold star’ had been successful and staff were looking at other ways to recognise good service.

22.9    The Chair thanked everyone the report and the work undertaken. There would be financial implications from the report and the Council would be looking at additional SEN funding and raising this with the Government.

22.10  RESOLVED: That the Committee:

(i)             Note the report on the Home to School Transport (HTST) Service;

(ii)            Agreed that a further report comes to a meeting of the CYPS Committee in the Spring of 2022, which will include provide an options appraisal and business case for the re-procurement of HTST services after the current contract expires in August 2023.