Issue - meetings

To receive the report by the Corporate Director for Education and Young People’s Services and the Cabinet Member for Education and Health Reform to consider and endorse or make recommendations on the decision to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Education and Health Reform on the decision for the award of contracts for SEN Transport Provision in following completion of the procurement process for the provision of SEN Transport provision.

1)         Roger Gough, Cabinet Member for Education and Health Reform, introduced a report providing an update on the progress of the implementation of the SEN Transport Phase 1 and asking the Committee to endorse the proposed decision to award contracts for SEN Transport Provision following completion of the procurement process. He explained this would be required to move this scheme into Phase 2.

2)         Scott Bagshaw, Head of Fair Access, explained that colleagues in the Highways team had done significant work to improve engagement with contractors.

3)         A view was expressed that when commissioning services for the SEN Transport there should be a preference for local companies with local knowledge.

4)         In response to a suggestion that a cross-party informal group could be established to monitor contracts of commissioned services the Chairman said this would be  included on the Work Programme and discussed at the next agenda setting meeting.

5)         The Education and Young People’s Services Cabinet Committee endorsed the proposed decision for the award of contracts for SEN Transport provision following completion of the procurement basis (single school lots) or multiple routes, based upon the geographical spread of students for each school.