Total expenditure in the last financial year for taxi's taking children to school
Case reference FOI2023/01607
Published 26 October 2023
Request
1. Herefordshire Council's total expenditure for the last financial year for the provision of taxi services to take pupils to school.
2. The total cost of providing taxi services because no suitable bus service was available.
Response
1. Herefordshire Council's total expenditure for the last financial year for the provision of taxi services to take pupils to school.
£4.1m
2. The total cost of providing taxi services because no suitable bus service was available.
We are not able to breakdown the cost of taxi services which were provided because no suitable bus service was available from the cost of taxi services which were provided for other reasons. The council always tries the most cost effective solution first, so, if a bus service was already running this would be the first option. However, sometimes in exceptional circumstances a taxi will be provided to help transport a pupil to school if they cannot access a nearby bus route safely. In other instances, a bus service is not suitable for the pupil's needs. For example, some pupils have an Education Health & Care Plan (EHCP). When procuring transport for pupils with a EHCP the council assesses this and decides how best the individual would be transported. Some may be able to travel on a public bus. Others may need a taxi if they require door to door transport, or, they may need a passenger assistant to accompany them in a taxi. Routes are modified to incorporate new riders and keep existing transport in place as opposed to newly commissioned transport. As such taxi services are provided based on specific circumstances or the needs of the students concerned. Please see the attached policy for further details.
Documents
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