The municipality of Raalte trusts that transport company Willemsen-de Koning has organized student transport in the municipality so much better within two weeks that the municipality does not have to switch to plan B. In the most unpleasant scenario, the municipality would then have to issue a new tender. .
“Yes,” says responsible alderman Gerria Toeter. She realizes that this is a serious operation. “But it also concerns the transport of vulnerable children. We are on top of that, so that it goes smoothly as quickly as possible.”
The first goal that the municipality of Raalte has set itself is that the children and their parents know where they stand in the short term. “So that parents no longer have to worry and the transport is neatly in order,” said the alderman.
The municipality of Raalte has sent a letter to the parents of children who use the student transport, which is offered by transport company Willemsen-de Koning from Arnhem. The problem is that there are no regular drivers, vans are too often late, communication leaves something to be desired and the operator’s telephone exchange is not easily accessible. Complaints are also not handled properly. The carrier has been given until December 16 by the municipality to solve the problems.
Complaints from Deventer
Despite problems, Alderman Toeter is convinced that a careful tender process has been carried out. While the municipality has teamed up with a party about which complaints had already been heard from Deventer. “That’s possible,” the alderman replied measuredly. “We may have heard those complaints, but a tender works in such a way that you can do something with certain information and not with certain information.”
Carefulness has come first, the alderman emphasizes. “That is simply the legal obligation that we have. Unfortunately, we have to conclude that the person who won the tender cannot yet fulfill all the agreements.”
Plan B
If the transport company does not have things in order after December 16, plan B will come into effect. “Then we may do business with a party that is sitting in the waiting room. We want to look at that carefully in advance, to see whether good agreements can be made,” Toeter explains.
If that also fails, then in the worst case scenario, a new tender would have to be done for student transport in Raalte.
good hope
This may be at the expense of the transport of vulnerable students. The councilor realizes that. “That is why we are now doing everything we can to find a good solution with the current carrier. We are still hopeful about that.”
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