Concerns are being raised about how Bradford Council allocates special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) taxi contracts.
Private Hire and Taxi Monthly reports an anonymous rival operator saying a company previously suspended from bidding and given a “red” performance rating has been awarded around twice as much work as last year after submitting significantly lower bids.
What the complaint alleges
The anonymous operator questions whether some prices are sustainable and whether drivers will accept the rates. One example cited is a minibus run said to have paid a driver about £50 for years that has now been cut to £33.
Further claims include short-notice offers where the price is not always disclosed in advance, making it hard for drivers to judge whether a job is viable.
PHTM argues the council should explain how price is assessed, whether sustainability is weighed alongside cost, and how past performance and capacity are checked when bids undercut rivals.
Bradford Council’s detailed response is not set out in the trade report summarised here.