East Lothian opens transport contracts to out-of-area taxi drivers amid 45% provision drop
- Perry Richardson
- 5 minutes ago
- 2 min read
East Lothian Council has opened its upcoming transport contracts framework to taxi drivers licensed outside the area, as the authority moves to address a sharp decline in local operator availability that has left some public service routes unfilled.
The new fleet services framework, covering 2026 to 2032, will go live in April, with bidding rounds for Additional Support Needs routes scheduled for May and June. Only operators approved onto the framework will be eligible to compete for the contracts, which cover essential services including home-to-school transport, adult care journeys and specialist ASN provision.
The move follows a significant contraction in the local taxi market. According to East Lothian Council, the number of licensed taxi operators in the area has fallen by 45% since 2019. The shortage has been formally recorded on the council’s infrastructure service risk register, with impacts already being felt in both rising costs and reduced service availability.
To stabilise provision, the council has expanded eligibility criteria to include taxi drivers holding valid licences from other local authorities, provided they meet East Lothian’s vehicle standards. The change applies specifically to work awarded through the framework, allowing the council to tap into a broader regional driver pool while maintaining operational requirements.
Council widens eligibility criteria to tackle shortage of licensed operators affecting school and care transport services
The authority remains a major buyer of transport services within the county, with most contracted journeys taking place locally. Contracts vary in scale, ranging from single routes to multiple daily journeys and accommodating a range of vehicle sizes. Industry stakeholders will be watching closely to see whether opening access to out-of-area drivers improves competition and fills gaps in service delivery.
Operators can apply to join the framework at any point during its eight-year term, though the council is urging early registration to access initial bidding opportunities this spring. Applications are being handled via Public Contracts Scotland, the national procurement portal.
To support applicants, the Supplier Development Programme will host two free online sessions on 16 and 23 April. These sessions will guide operators through registration, licensing, insurance and vehicle requirements. Recordings will be made available afterwards, alongside in-person support for those requiring further assistance.
Tom Reid, East Lothian Council’s Head of Infrastructure, said: “We’re one of the largest buyers of transport in East Lothian and new contract opportunities will be available this summer. We want to increase the number of people on our framework, including companies and individual licensed drivers, to meet our demand for services. Our contracts offer stable work from individual journeys to larger contracts with multiple routes.
“Our online events will help people to find out more about our insurance and PVG requirements, as well as how to apply for our framework and our team is also available to help.”
