Mainstream School Transport Arranged by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (Spt) - Contracts for the Period 2010 to 201 3

NORTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL

REPORT

To: LEARNING AND LEISURE Subject: MAINSTREAM SCHOOL SERVICES COMMITTEE TRANSPORT ARRANGED

Date: 14~~JUIY 2010 Ref: MM/NR

PURPOSE OF REPORT

To seek homologation of action taken by the executive director of corporate services, following consultation with the convener, in authorising Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) to accept, on behalf of the council, the lowest suitable contract for the provision of school transport to Lenzie Academy and Lenzie Primary School, Lenzie and Holy Family Primary School, Kirkintilloch, for pupils from Auchinloch and outlying farms, for a period of five years.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The learning and leisure services committee is asked to homologate the action taken by the executive director of corporate services, following consultation with the convener, in authorising SPT to accept the lowest suitable tender for the shared contract with East Dunbartonshire Council for the provision of school transport to Lenzie Academy and Lenzie Primary School, Lenzie and Holy Family Primary School, Kirkintilloch, for pupils from Auchinloch and outlying farms, for a period of five years.

Members wishing further information should contact:

Murdo Maciver, Head of Educational Resources on 01 236 81 2269 Ron Dufour, Education Officer on 01 236 81 2258

91 NORTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL - LEARNING AND LEISURE SERVICES

MAINSTREAM SCHOOL TRANSPORT ARRANGED BY STRATHCLYDE PARTNERSHIP FOR TRANSPORT (SPT) - CONTRACTS FOR THE PERIOD 2010 TO 201 3

Report by Head of Educational Resources

1. PURPOSE OF REPORT

1.1 To seek homologation of action taken by the executive director of corporate services, following consultation with the convener, in authorizing Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) to accept, on behalf of the council, the lowest suitable contract for the provision of school transport to Lenzie Academy and Lenzie Primary School, Lenzie and Holy Family Primary School, Kirkintilloch for a period of five years. This provision includes pupils from Auchinloch and outlying farms

2. BACKGROUND

2.1 On June 10 the learning and leisure services committee gave consideration to a report by the head of education resources, which provided details of mainstream school transport contracts which had been received and evaluated by SPT, on behalf of the council, for the period from 201 0 to 201 3. It approved the recommendations contained therein by noting the action taken by (a) the executive director of learning and leisure services, following consultation with the convener, in authorizing SPT to accept the lowest or most suitable tender for each of the 27 school transport contracts not exceeding f50,000for a three year period, in terms of her delegated powers, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report, and (b) the executive director of corporate services, following consultation with the convener, in authorising SPT to accept the lowest or most suitable tender for each of the 23 school contracts exceeding f50,000 for a three year period, in terms of his delegated powers, as detailed in Appendix 3 to the report.

3. CONSIDERATIONS

3.1 Joint Contract with East Dunbartonshire Council

It subsequently became apparent that the report had not highlighted a deviation in one of the contracts which was shared with East Dunbartonshire Council for the provision of school transport to Lenzie Academy and Lenzie Primary School, Lenzie and Holy Family Primary School, Kirkintilloch, in that the duration of the contract was for a five year period instead of a three year period. Although, as stated in the report, it is the practice of this council to operate school transport contracts on a three year basis, East Dunbartonshire Council operates school transport contracts on a five year basis.

At the request of East Dunbartonshire Council, following consultation with the head of educational resources, SPT had invited tenders for the shared contract on a five year basis.

92 In order to progress the mainstream school transport contracts timeously, the executive director for corporate services, following consultation with the convener, authorised SPT to accept the 22 contracts exceeding €50,000 for the provision of mainstream school transport for a period of three years, and also the shared contract with East Dunbartonshire Council for the provision of school transport to Lenzie Academy and Lenzie Primary School, Lenzie and Holy Family Primary School, Kirkintilloch for a five year period

4. RECOMMENDATIONS

4.1 The learning and leisure services committee is asked to homologate the action taken by the executive director of corporate services, following consultation with the convener, in authorizing SPT to accept the lowest suitable tender for the shared contract with East Dunbartonshire Council for the provision of school transport to Lenzie Academy and Lenzie Primary School, Lenzie and Holy Family Primary School, Kirkintilloch, for pupils from Auchinloch and outlying areas, for a period of five years.