Dorset Council reviews rising cost of school transport

Dorset Council wants to promote school bus travel over taxis to save money

A council says it will work to cut the cost of school transport, as its annual bill rises by nearly 15%.

Dorset Council said the budget would reach £35m in 2023-24, compared to £30.5m the previous year.

Fuel costs and a lack of drivers helped to add costs of £12m, the council's resources scrutiny committee heard.

Director of infrastructure, Matthew Piles, told councillors that savings could be made by reviewing contracts and promoting bus travel over taxis.

He said: "My team, and there are 300 people who work on transport every day, are very concerned with the budget pressures that we have.

"This is not a place that I am comfortable with."

Councillor Andrew Parry, previously in charge of education, said the council's attempts to teach children with special needs to use public or school buses were often thwarted by legal challenges.

He said: "Travel training will often be met with a push-back from families who would rather have a door-to-door taxi service.

"If they really push and went to a tribunal it would likely find in their favour."

The council transports 7,000 children to school as well as 1,200 children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Of the £35m budget for the current financial year, more than £19m will be spent on transport for SEND children, councillors were told.

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