To authorise the spend/investment of a new School Route Planning Software to support home to school, SEN (Special Educational Needs) and college transportation in Herefordshire. This decision follows the council’s resolution at the full council budget meeting on 7 February 2025 to approve the Capital Programme for 2025/26.

That:

a) The Capital Investment of £50,000 in 2025/26 be utilised for investment in a new School Route Planning Software system to support home to school, SEN and college transportation in Herefordshire;

b) Authority be delegated to Head of Transport and Access Services to take all operational decisions in delivering recommendation (a).

Not to invest has been discounted. The current contract is due to expire and without the transport planning software the service cannot operate. There is a statutory duty to transport school-aged children and SEN children to educational establishments, as long as they meet our eligibility criteria. The risk to the service is significant, and the legal challenges Herefordshire Council would face for not delivering our statutory function would be immense.

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