THE Cornwall Council member for Launceston North and North Petherwin has expressed his frustrations after the council admitted that it is overpaying for taxi services. 

Home-to-school transport for pupils in Cornwall is one of the council’s biggest expenditures and has led to a £5-millon overspend during the first half of the financial year. 

The main areas of overspend continue to be in school transport, temporary and emergency housing, amounting to £8-million, and housing benefits costing £3.9-million. 

Children in Care services have also seen increased costs with an expected overspend of £4.3-million on top of a council-wide pay increase of £4.1-million. 

The council’s chief operating officer Tracie Langley told the scrutiny committee that home to school transport for children with additional educational needs – which can often mean a child and a carer being taken to school by taxi – is particularly expensive for the council. 

Cllr Mike McLening said: “Sometimes I get the feeling that perhaps we’re not as harsh as we should be when negotiating prices. You say about the taxi drivers … do we let them get away with a bit on pricing?” 

Ms Langley responded that he was correct, but measures were being put in place to ensure they are paid a fair price, but one which could save the council money. 

She told the Conservative councillor for St Stephen: “I think you might be absolutely right, councillor, and we will do our best to negotiate the right price and put the right caps on our dynamic purchasing systems.” 

One of the councillors who highlighted the issues surrounding school taxi services, was Independent councillor for Launceston North and North Petherwin, Adam Paynter. Earlier this year he flagged that taxi drivers from as far away as Essex and Shropshire were driving to Cornwall to carry out school runs for Cornish students. 

Following this recent admission by the council, Cllr Paynter told the Post: “Unfortunately, the Tories running the council currently really don’t have a clue what is going on. They say themselves that everything is getting worse under their leadership, as said by the cabinet member for finance and deputy leader councillor David Harris.  

“Leading a council is all about choices, yes money is very tight for councils currently and our national government is a mess. But different decisions could be made for Cornwall.  

“Procurement for Cornwall Council needs to be better as money is being wasted.  

“School transport should be provided by local companies keeping journeys as short as possible to save costs and help the environment. 

“That wasn’t the case for my child this year when taxis came from Essex and Shropshire to take kids to school. 

“Things have improved a bit with the driver now coming from Holsworthy to do the school taxi trips.”