People who drive pupils in Reading to school each day may have to pay hundreds of pounds more to continue operating.
Changes for school transport drivers have been proposed as Reading Borough Council has an £870,000 on providing the service.
School transport involves a taxi driver getting a child to and from school.
While any child who does not live within walking distance of their school is eligible for a bus pass, children with more complex needs and disabilities are entitled to a taxi service.
This typically involves getting children with education, health and care (EHC) plans to and from school or their alternative educational provision.
It currently costs £240 to get a school transport licence in Reading. It then costs £100 to licence a school transport vehicle, compared to £315 to licence a private hire taxi.
A driver must also obtain a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate that costs £57.90.
The council’s licensing team has proposed getting rid of school transport as a separate licensing category, effectively forcing school transport drivers to become private hire drivers.
This policy was recently discussed at a council meeting.
Alan Parkinson from Green Metro Cars, explained school transport drivers are different from private hire drivers, and are more likely to work part-time, are retirees or wives of taxi drivers.
He said: “Removing the school run licence would create a massive hole.
“Getting school transport a Private Hire badge is just not happening. They are not interested in putting that effort in, if you like.
“I haven’t licensed a school run driver for the last six months. If there is a financial reason for getting rid of the school transport licence, it’s not a good choice.
“We take 1,000 children to school every day. It’s far cheaper for me to put these drivers into a school-run vehicle rather than a private taxi vehicle.”
The policy is being proposed as the council has a £872,000 overspend on providing school transport taxis.
Although this figure was not directly mentioned, the overspend was discussed at a policy committee meeting on July 21.
Clyde Masson, the council’s principal licensing officer, argued the change is being proposed as getting a school transport licence has been subsidised since 2006.
He said: “The industry has changed, times have changed. From a licensing perspective, we’re questioning why we’re subsidising that work.”
To that, Mr Parkinson replied that school transport driving is “specialist” as it requires extensive training and catering for the needs of pupils.
He said: “It’s much more involved and complicated than just taking them [pupils] to and from school.”
Agreeing with him, councillor Sarah Magon, who is a primary teacher, stated school transport drivers are more sensitive to pupils.
Cllr Magon (Green, Park) said: “When you’ve got drivers who are School Transport, they are more child-friendly, they are more familiar. A lot of general private hire drivers are not as familiar with children. That’s what I observe on the day to day.”
Councillors unanimously agreed to a statutory consultation into getting rid of school transport licences at the licensing applications committee meeting on July 22.
This consultation will be published on the council’s Go Vocal website and will last eight weeks.
