Dear Sir/madam

I acknowledge receipt of your request which is receiving attention.

I shall contact you again when I am in a position to respond more fully to your request.

Yours sincerely

Angelene Kirkpatrick
For Freedom of Information Co-ordinator
North Lanarkshire Council
Civic Centre
Windmillhill Street
Motherwell
ML1 1AB

Working from home
Please contact via email

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Dear Mr. Fraser

Request for Information

I refer again to your e-mail dated 15 August 2021 seeking information in
relation to ASN school transport.

Having investigated, my response to your questions is as follows:-

·       Please see set out below the number of contractors tendering
during the period 2016 to 2021:-

2016 - 2019 = 90 Contractors

2017 - 2020 = 107 Contractors

2018 - 2021 = 107 Contractors

2019 - 2021 = 93 Contractors

2020 I can advise that the information requested is not held and in terms
of Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, I must
advise you of this.  By way of explanation no tender was conducted due to
Covid19

2021 - 109 Contractors

·       Training- prior to Covid19 was a half day training provided in
August each year. With regard to the number of drivers trained, I can
advise that the information requested is not held and in terms of Section
17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, I must advise you of
this.  By way of explanation we do not have a record of numbers attending
as it is not compulsory training.

·       Education & Families, Child Protection Officer and Hope for Autism
delivered the training.

·       The total number of drivers issued contracts that have a PVG in
the years 2016 – 2021 is not held and in terms of Section 17 of the
Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, I must advise you of this.  By
way of explanation I can advise that we currently have 2853 Drivers &
Escorts on the database.

·       I can advise that the total number of complaints received about
taxis (ASN transport) during the period 2016 to 2021 is not held and in
terms of Section 17 of the Freedom of information (Scotland) Act 2002, I
must advise you of this.  By way of explanation as the ASN Transport
database was retired and information not retained for 2016-2021.  By way
of additional information the majority of complaints would go straight to
transport to resolve rather than through the formal complaints system.

·       Successful contractors allocate driver/escorts. In line with
Special Conditions of Contract, driver/escorts should make contact with
parent/carers to arrange to introduce themselves to the pupil/parent/carer
prior to the first day of travel to allow any relevant information
regarding the pupils needs to be exchanged.

·       Please find attached is a copy of the Special Conditions of
Contract issued to contractors.

I can advise that North Lanarkshire Council, having regard to the
provisions of Section 21 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act
2002, has established a procedure whereby any person who has requested
information and is in any way dissatisfied with the decision on that
request, can within forty working days require a review of that decision
by writing to the Head of Legal and Democratic Solutions, Civic Centre,
Windmillhill Street, Motherwell ML1 1AB.  Accordingly, if you are
dissatisfied with this decision and seek such review please write to the
Head of Legal and Democratic Solutions.

I would advise, also, that in terms of Section 47 of the Act a person who
is dissatisfied with a notice given by the local authority under Section
21 of the Act - ie. a notice following a review of a decision by a local
authority, or by the failure of a local authority to give such a notice -
may make application to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a
decision as to whether, in any respect specified in that application, the
request for information to which the requirement relates has been dealt
with in accordance with the Act.  Such an application must be made within
six months of the review decision and be in writing or in another form
which, by reason of it having some permanency is capable of being used for
subsequent reference. The application must state the name of the
applicant, and provide an address for correspondence. The application must
also specify the request for information to which the requirement for
review relates, the matter which gave rise to the applicant’s
dissatisfaction with the original decision of the local authority and the
matter which gives rise to the applicant’s dissatisfaction with the
decision on review by the local authority or the failure of the local
authority to issue such a decision.  The Scottish Information Commissioner
can be contacted as follows:-

Scottish Information Commissioner

Kinburn Castle

Doubledykes Road

St. Andrews

KY16  9DS

email: [1][email address]

Appeals to the Scottish Information Commissioner can also be made online
via the following link: -

[2]www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal

I hope this information is sufficient for your purpose.  If, however, you
require further information – or I can assist in any other way – please
let me know.

Yours sincerely

Jacqueline Keachie

For Freedom of Information Co-ordinator

North Lanarkshire Council

Contact by email

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