Purpose

On 19 September 2024, the
Highways and Transport Committee approved proposals to extend
FlexiLink hours of operation, on a trial basis, and make it
available for use by all passengers who do not have access to a
fixed-route bus service. Authority was delegated to the Director of
Infrastructure and Highways to identify the most cost effective delivery model for flexible transport
which also meets the provision for home-to-school special
educational needs and disability (SEND) transport, in consultation
with the Director of Education, Strong Start and Integration; and
to procure the Council’s supported bus services including
flexible transport
 
On 19 June 2025, the Highways and Transport
Committee approved a specification for a modernised DRT service as
part of the Council’s transformation programme and delegated
authority to the Director of Transport and Infrastructure to
deliver the service in line with the specification.
 
To operate the modernised DRT
service in line with the approved specification, the Council needs
to procure a software system for booking and scheduling passenger
journeys, enabling passengers to share the same vehicle and
optimise operating efficiency. The Council has an existing contract
with Via Technologies Europe B.V.  which
was made with Ansa Environmental Services Limited. This contract
expires on 31 March 2026 and there is no mechanism by which this
can be extended.
 
 

Content

On 19 September 2024, the
Highways and Transport Committee approved proposals to extend
FlexiLink hours of operation, on a trial basis, and make it
available for use by all passengers who do not have access to a
fixed-route bus service. Authority was delegated to the Director of
Infrastructure and Highways to identify the most cost effective
delivery model for flexible transport which also meets the
provision for home-to-school special educational needs and
disability (SEND) transport, in consultation with the Director of
Education, Strong Start and Integration; and to procure the
Council’s supported bus services including flexible
transport
 
On 19 June 2025, the Highways and Transport
Committee approved a specification for a modernised DRT service as
part of the Council’s transformation programme and delegated
authority to the Director of Transport and Infrastructure to
deliver the service in line with the specification.
 
To operate the modernised DRT
service in line with the approved specification, the Council needs
to procure a software system for booking and scheduling passenger
journeys, enabling passengers to share the same vehicle and
optimise operating efficiency. The Council has an existing contract
with Via Technologies Europe B.V.  which
was made with Ansa Environmental Services Limited. This contract
expires on 31 March 2026 and there is no mechanism by which this
can be extended.