Availability of Wheelchair Accessible Taxis/PHVs- Schools /SEN & Social Services Contracts

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Dear Dorset County Council,

I am undertaking a study of availability of wheelchair accessible taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) , collectively 'WAVs' . Council contracts can often occupy a large proportion of licensed WAVs at key times which are then not available for hire by other wheelchair users.

Please supply a list/spreadsheet/link etc showing the current contracts and providers of WAV transport for your schools/SEN /Social Services. Please show their business contact details (preferably phone numbers). I will need to contact a sample as part of the study.

If possible, please indicate if the contract provides for a Personal Assistant.
There can be some uncertainty as to whether a WAV driver with a medical exemption certificate (wheelchair or assistance dog) can delegate responsibility to a Personal Assistant for operating vehicle lifts, ramps ,hoists, restraints etc . If you have a policy or instruction on this, please include it.

Yours faithfully,

Dick Fowler

Freedom of Information, Dorset County Council

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Freedom of Information, Dorset County Council

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Dear Mr Fowler,

 

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request.

 

Please find attached a spreadsheet listing our current contractors of
wheelchair accessible taxis and the routes that we currently contract with
the relevant contractors, and whether or not they contain a Passenger
Assistant.

 

As part of the contract, all drivers are expected to be able to operate
vehicle lifts, ramps, hoists, restraints etc. Passenger Assistants would
not be trained in this operation.

 

I should point out that Dorset County Council does not hold Private Hire
Vehicle information. This is because the local licensing authorities (the
District/Borough Councils) hold this information. Therefore you would need
to request this information from them. The local Districts/Boroughs are:
West Dorset District Council, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, North
Dorset District Council, East Dorset District Council, Purbeck District
Council and Christchurch Borough Council.

 

If you are not completely satisfied with our response, please contact us
again, or write to the complaints officer at: Dorset County Council,
County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1XJ. Or you can follow
the complaints procedure on our website that can be found [1]here. If your
appeal is not resolved to your satisfaction, you have the right to apply
to the Information Commissioner for a decision.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Freedom of Information Team

Dorset County Council

 

Legal & Democratic   Freedom of Information Team
Services
Records Management Unit
              County
Hall County Hall

Colliton Park [2][Dorset County Council request email]

Dorchester [3]Description:
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Dorset

DT1 1XJ

 

 

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