1. COMMUNITY & SOCIAL SERVICES DIRECTORATE Passenger Transport Services

2. ROLE ‘To provide a safe and reliable service to support the responsibilities of the Community & Social Services Directorate to the people of Salford’

3. PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILTIES OF THE IN-HOUSE SERVICE EACH WEEKDAY WE CARRY ON AVERAGE 145 Older people to 5 day centres145 Older people to 5 day centres 192 Adults with learning and/or physical disabilities to 4 day centres192 Adults with learning and/or physical disabilities to 4 day centres 46 Children with special educational needs to schools through 8 contracts with Education & Leisure Services Directorate46 Children with special educational needs to schools through 8 contracts with Education & Leisure Services Directorate Of these 96 (25%) are wheelchair dependent 500 Hot meals to all areas of the City as part of the meals-on-wheels service

4. OTHER WORK OF THE SERVICE INCLUDES: Provision of transport for the visually impairedProvision of transport for the visually impaired Services for voluntary disabled groups in the eveningServices for voluntary disabled groups in the evening Private hire workPrivate hire work Domiciliary laundry serviceDomiciliary laundry service Goods transport across the DirectorateGoods transport across the Directorate

5. RESOURCES 28 Passenger carrying vehicles28 Passenger carrying vehicles 20Goods vehicles20Goods vehicles 72Full and part-time staff72Full and part-time staff

6. COSTS IN 2000/01 £1.5m gross cost£1.5m gross cost offset by £465,000 income offset by £465,000 income

7. TRANSPORT MANAGER’S RESPONSIBILITIES Staff management and deploymentStaff management and deployment Optimising vehicle utilisationOptimising vehicle utilisation Ensuring the service attains the highest possible standardsEnsuring the service attains the highest possible standards Ensuring compliance with Transport and Health and Safety LegislationEnsuring compliance with Transport and Health and Safety Legislation Undertaking Risk AssessmentUndertaking Risk Assessment Budget monitoringBudget monitoring Promoting the servicePromoting the service Resolving complaintsResolving complaints

8. POSITIVES OF THE IN-HOUSE SERVICE Trained staff who are all positively vettedTrained staff who are all positively vetted Awareness of the needs of the service and it’s usersAwareness of the needs of the service and it’s users Modern, well equipped vehiclesModern, well equipped vehicles Ability to respond to unforeseen demandsAbility to respond to unforeseen demands

9. PERCEIVED PROBLEMS WITH THE IN-HOUSE SERVICE Cost and operational differentials compared with our competitorsCost and operational differentials compared with our competitors Some outdated staff conditions of service which need to be reviewedSome outdated staff conditions of service which need to be reviewed Little consultation with service users/carersLittle consultation with service users/carers Long lead times to achieve major changeLong lead times to achieve major change Poor off-peak vehicle utilisationPoor off-peak vehicle utilisation Fleet comprises mainly larger vehicles which deliver some economies but hinder flexibilityFleet comprises mainly larger vehicles which deliver some economies but hinder flexibility

10. TAXI HIRE There is an increasing use of taxis across the Directorate to support adult’s and children’s services.There is an increasing use of taxis across the Directorate to support adult’s and children’s services. These are arranged by Social Services as part of a client’s care packageThese are arranged by Social Services as part of a client’s care package A ‘Select List’ of taxi operators is drawn up by the Directorate’s Contracts & Reviews Section is available to Social WorkersA ‘Select List’ of taxi operators is drawn up by the Directorate’s Contracts & Reviews Section is available to Social Workers

11. TAXI COSTS IN 2000/01 £124,000For adults and older people£124,000For adults and older people £160,000For looked after children£160,000For looked after children Compared to 1995/96 of £70,000For adults and older people£70,000For adults and older people £100,000For looked after children£100,000For looked after children

12. PROBLEMS OF THE PRESENT TAXI HIRE ARRANGEMENTS No monitoring processes in placeNo monitoring processes in place No co-ordinated approachNo co-ordinated approach Difficult to ascertain whether we get value for moneyDifficult to ascertain whether we get value for money Uncertainties about skill and probity levels of drivers to deal with more vulnerable service usersUncertainties about skill and probity levels of drivers to deal with more vulnerable service users

13. KEY AREAS FOR REVIEW Do we need eligibility criteria for access to a transport service?Do we need eligibility criteria for access to a transport service? How do we improve value for money/competitiveness and quality?How do we improve value for money/competitiveness and quality? What measures are needed to achieve greater transparency?What measures are needed to achieve greater transparency? How do we achieve a more flexible, more individually tailored service?How do we achieve a more flexible, more individually tailored service? What partnership arrangements should be considered to improve services both to our traditional service users and to the people of Salford generallyWhat partnership arrangements should be considered to improve services both to our traditional service users and to the people of Salford generally

14. continued How is the passenger transport service to be managed?How is the passenger transport service to be managed? -Do we maintain the status quo? -Do we create a Directorate Transport Service managing both internally and externally provided services? -Do we have a corporate approach by merging the passenger transport functions of the Council?