Following last week’s Derby News article “Would you put your vulnerable child into an unmarked minibus? Derby City Council expects you to!”, Derby City Council’s Home to School Travel service issued a defensive “Parent and Carer Bulletin” in an attempt to reassure parents.

The question that should be asked internally is – why was this necessary in October?

Some of the notable statements in the bulletin ( see below for full document):

“The contract was awarded to Nottingham Specialist Transport (NST) following a fully compliant, transparent and competitive procurement process”

Parents expect that the Council follows its own processes at all times.

It goes onto say that all operators, drivers, and passenger assistants..

“…are fully compliant with all relevant qualifications and safeguarding requirements”

Again, full compliance is mandatory.

It then makes a questionable claim that all people working on the contract have been recruited from within Derby…

“…with the contract creating 150 jobs in the City”

The same children were being transported to school, along the same routes, last year, by Derby taxi drivers. There is no logical reason why there would be 150 additional jobs. In fact, it would just be different people doing the same jobs.

There is a further assertion that the local economy will benefit…

“…with local businesses being used for all vehicle supplies, maintenance and services”

This would be similar to previous years.

“The contract is for up to 5 years which will provide consistency and continuity…”

The contract has been awarded for 2 years with an option to extend it. In reality the continuity is only guaranteed for 2 years.

Comment

There is no mention of the significant loss of licensing revenue to the Council by using an organisation with staff, and vehicles licensed by Rushcliffe Borough Council and not Derby City Council.

Time will tell how transparent the Council will be on this contract.

A curious bulletin which only focuses on what the Council wants to transmit rather than considering what the parents might actually be concerned about; for example, unmarked/anonymous minibuses, and measures to ensure the proper safeguarding of their children.