Member Article

Spiralling costs linked to ineffective school transport planning

Leading transport technology provider Trapeze Group has raised concerns that local authorities are facing spiralling outsourcing costs as a result of failures in the school transport scheduling process.

Recent research carried out by Trapeze highlighted a lack of forward planning, poor communication between departments and a reluctance to embrace technology as common factors creating a ‘Doomsday scenario’ that is seeing councils forced to outsource all school transport scheduling and delivery requirements, having failed to deliver efficient models internally.

Critically, the failure to plan effectively during the narrow time frame between the completion of the schools admission process and the requirement to invite tenders for transport provision is resulting in under-utilised routes and buses across many parts of the UK.

Trapeze also warned that by struggling to meet deadlines, local authorities were also risking an increase in the number of complaints from residents.

Paul Attenborough, Account Manager at Trapeze Group, said: “Our research has highlighted a significant opportunity for local authorities to reduce the burden of school transport. In addition to the costs associated with a last minute, panicked outsourcing approach there are also significant savings to be made elsewhere.

“If a school transport plan is not fully in place by the start of the summer – ready to be enacted when September arrives – not only will pupils be presented with a commuting nightmare, local authorities will also be exposed to a barrage of enquiries and complaints from parents. Extra administrative staff and man-hours will be required to handle these interactions, placing a further drain on already limited resources.

“By forward planning and exploring ways in which partial outsourcing of certain tasks can reduce workloads for example, local authorities are better placed to avoid a Doomsday scenario and have the opportunity to deliver significant budget savings.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Trapeze Group UK .