There will be a shake-up of community and school transport in Hampshire as the county council battles with a blackhole in its finances.

Following the consultation on the savings proposals by Hampshire County Council to reduce its deficit for 2026/27, in which a review on how passenger transport was delivered in the county, it was decided (October 14) that community transport and school transport will be jointly commissioned and delivered together in the county.

The new approach intended to continue to offer the service and reduce the cost of school transport, which is currently a burden on the council’s finances.

It would retain “vital support” for vulnerable residents and continue to provide school transport for eligible children by using vehicles throughout the day, serving children and adults at different times.

The county council and its partners own 17 minibuses and have a share in seven.

Under existing arrangements, these vehicles are contractually obliged to provide community transport services, predominately Dial-a-Ride, Call-&-Go and Fleet Link services, all day.

The operators who provide these services also own a further 32 minibuses used to service a wide range of community-based and contract activities.

Many of these operators already deliver school transport contracts with their vehicles, proving a “good value for money”.

The new approach ensures that Dial-a-Ride and Call-&-Go services are scheduled around school run times whenever possible.

This would mean that community transport services could provide further school transport contracts by repurposing vehicles during school run periods.

Vehicles could provide traditional community transport services outside a school contract between 9am and 2.30pm.

Director of universal services Patrick Blogg said that although the approval has been granted, the council wouldn’t be implementing the agreement until it is “content” with the proposal. This would be autumn 2025 at the earliest, he said.

Cabinet member for universal services Cllr Kristy North welcomed the report and highlighted that the decision showed how well the council can integrate school transport and community transport to “maximise” the use of minibuses and vehicle fleets.

She added that the approach will “serve” young and old Hampshire residents and offer a “more dynamic” and “responsive” service that will benefit vulnerable residents who are going to “rely on this type of transport to get out and about”.