D&G Bus has accused Staffordshire County Council (SCC) of observing “bizarre” procurement rules after the local authority backtracked on a decision to withdraw support for two routes – while claiming that it can do nothing to prevent an eight-week period during which no journeys will run on either.
Routes 12, between Longton and Barlaston, and 93, between Biddulph and Biddulph Moor, are part of a round of cuts under SCC’s review of tendered bus services, which will see a host of withdrawals on 1 April.
But because more savings than expected were made on other routes, SCC has now instead issued a tender for them, likely to commence on 4 June.
“To have an eight-week gap [with no service] will cause considerable inconvenience and distress,” says D&G Managing Director David Reeves, who suggests that the existing contracts that lapse on 1 April should be extended to cover.
Mr Reeves says that D&G has been told by SCC that is not possible, and that it must stick to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. That does not address D&G’s suggestion that the existing contracts be extended.
“I do not agree with the above. Operators can provide prices quickly and SCC can review and compare them and then decide whether it can afford to retain the services, or some of them. There is no reason why any gap in provision is required.”
