Axe falls on yellow school buses

Almost a quarter of Staffordshire County Council's American-style yellow school bus fleet is being axed, with seven drivers losing their jobs.

The Conservative group which took power in June's county elections says it will save £100,000 on the school bus service by bringing in the private sector.

The new cabinet has cancelled a decision made by the previous Labour administration to renew the lease on seven of the fleet of yellow buses from January next year.

The council will continue to review the operation of the school bus service with the priority that youngsters continue to get to school safely and maximum savings are made for the council tax payer.

The future of the remaining 23 yellow school buses in the fleet will be considered when they come up for renewal - eight in 2013 and 15 in 2016.

Cabinet member for regeneration Councillor Robert Marshall said that the savings could be achieved without compromising the service to children.

"We are determined to ensure that children get the same quality of service but without the extra costs. This is what we are all about – delivering a super efficient service and making the most of the flexibility that the private sector can deliver," he said.

But Labour councillor Peter Beresford, who was Labour's cabinet member for children and young people, said it was a false economy.

"This is an example of how the ruling Conservatives intend to cut and cut again," he said. "They will have to provide some alternative transport to enable youngsters who currently travel on yellow buses to get to school. My worry is that the private sector will not have the capacity to pick up this amount of work."