In the event of transport cancellation due to
pupils not travelling the contractor would usually receive 50% of
the daily price for up to 5 days. However the current spike in
Covid cases has led to significantly more transport cancellations
than usual.
Whilst taxi drivers are able to pick up other passengers in place
of / in addition to their school runs this is not the case for taxi
escorts who are employed in this capacity purely for the school run
am and pm. Additionally Escorts tend to be low paid and firms are
finding it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain these staff
in light of frequent cancellations and interruptions.
Maintaining the Escort payment for periods of cancellation due to
pupils self-isolating may provide an extra measure of reassurance
and help to maintain continuity and retain staff.
This would also apply to minibus escorts although minibus
cancellations are less likely as they carry a number of passengers
every day.
It is proposed that this we pay 100% of the Escort cost from
January 2022 in the event of a route being cancelled due to pupils
self-isolating with covid. Not for any other reason and this would
only be for a maximum of 2 weeks. This would be for the period from
January to the Easter break initially, so for one term. If numbers
continue to be high after Easter a further ODR will be
created.
Decision type: Non-key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Notice of proposed decision first published: 20/01/2022
Decision due: 13 Jan 2022 by Director of Learning, Opportunities and Skills
Contact: Kim Holdridge, Deputy Pupil Support & Passenger Transport Manager Email: kim.holdridge@doncaster.gov.uk.