FOI request (FOIR-502679891)

Taxi service

Requested Wed 29 March 2023
Responded Fri 31 March 2023

Many local authorities are struggling to fulfil their current legal obligations to provide home to school transport and they are very concerned as to how they will meet the increased future demand.

It is recognised that thousands of licensed drivers have left the UK's hackney and private hire trade in the past few years and these numbers are unlikely to increase back to where they were previously.

We are calling on local licensing authorities to seriously consider the introduction of restricted drivers licences, or school only drivers licences.

To assist with the above, we wish to make the following FOI request.

I hereby request, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000:

1. Knowledge of whether your authority directly procures taxi and PHV services.

2. If yes, please provide the appropriate contact details for us to communicate with them, which would include as a minimum, the name of the Department, and both telephone and email contact details. Ideally, the name of an officer or key point of contact would also be appreciated.

3. If no, we would appreciate the same details of any over-arching authority (for example, the County Council or Local Education Authority) that is responsible in your area.

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Response

Hastings Borough Council does not procure taxi or PHV services.

School transport is dealt with by East Sussex County Council, please visit their website for further information:

https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk