1. Local Authority: Wokingham Borough Council

2. Contact details for Home to School Transport Officer:
Ctu.Group@wokingham.gov.uk
(0118) 974 6000

3. How many children do you transport to school on a daily basis:
Pupils (not including further education): 909
Pupils (including further education): 962

4.
a) Are you finding that prices for providing transport are increasing?
The cost of transporting pupils (including those in further education) in November of 2021, 2020 and 2019 are given below to allow for a year on year comparison of monthly costs.

November 2019: £349,404.70
November 2020: £433,978.79
November 2021: £470,522.81

b) If so, why do you think this is?
This is not recorded on our records. The Freedom of Information Act covers all recorded information held by a public authority.

The Act does not cover information that is in someone’s head. If a member of the public asks for information, the authority only has to provide information if it already has it in recorded form. They do not have to create new information or find the answer to a question from staff who may happen to know it.

5. Have you reviewed your home to school transport service and come up with any ways to reduce costs within the home to school service?
On 1st May 2020, Sarah Hollamby (Director Locality & Customer Services, Customer & Localities) wrote a statement of material decisions, stating the following;

"The Corporate Transport Unit is working with Wokingham Borough Council business analysts and two external consultants that are reporting to the Councils transport review board. This transport review is all encompassing, from the structure, resources, all contracts, commissioning departments, governance and reporting and review of the external transport suppliers. There will also be a complete route review of all transport that is operated. These routes will include the alignment of Community Services Contracts with Childrens and Education transport contracts.

To achieve the desired outcome for our transport providers and the Council, the implementation of a Dynamic Purchasing System was to be in place by May 2020 to allow for the current home to school contracts and adult social care contracts to be re-tendered commencing from September 2020.

The decision has been reached after discussions with the Procurement and the Senior Management Team."

6. Do you use escorts within each vehicle when transporting children? If no, when would you use an escort
Not all vehicles have an escort, but some do. Reasons for using an escort are not found within our records within the Community Transport Unit.

7.
a) Do you use an in-house bus or taxi service?
No.

b) If yes, please give brief details
Not applicable.

8. Do you use any Software to help with contract management / route planning?
No.

9. How successful have you found this?
This is not recorded on our records. The Freedom of Information Act covers all recorded information held by a public authority.

The Act does not cover information that is in someone’s head. If a member of the public asks for information, the authority only has to provide information if it already has it in recorded form. They do not have to create new information or find the answer to a question from staff who may happen to know it.