Minibus

General 

The group has recently purchased 2 new minibuses for the group to use for camps and events.  A new Fort Transit 17 seat minibus has been purchased, this has been funded with a generous donation of £31,610 made from the neighbourhood budgets of local Councillors Rob Yorke and Christine Wilson.  The group has also a second smaller bus, a Ford transit 14 seat minibus, this has a lower weight, meaning that it can be driven on an ordinary car licence, both vehicles have tow bars fitted so that our box trailer can be used with either vehicle.  Both vehicles are available for other voluntary or community groups to use when not in use by the Scout group, please see below for further details.

Requirements to Drive

The 17 seat Ford Transit has a vehicle weight that is over 3,500kg, therefore there is a requirement for the driver to have the D1 classification on their license, the smaller 14 seat Transit has a lower vehicle weight so can be driven on an ordinary car license (although a trailer cannot be towed if the D1 classification is not held) please see below for more details..

https://www.gov.uk/driving-a-minibus

Section 19 Permits

Any groups using the Minibus’s and are charging their members for use should have a section 19 permit that specifically covers their group or organisation for the Scout association this can be ordered directly from Gilwell at a cost of £5 per permit, for other groups section 19 permits can be ordered from the Traffic Commissioners, both links are below. 

https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/running-your-section/administration/section-19-minibus-permits

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-for-a-standard-or-large-bus-permit-psv372

Minibus pricing – 17 seat bus (16 Passengers & 1 Driver) 

£75 Per Day (24 hour period) excluding fuel (bus starts with a full tank of fuel and is returned full) unlimited millage.

Minibus pricing 14 seat bus (13 Passengers & 1 Driver) 

£65 Per Day (24-hour period) excluding fuel (bus starts with a full tank of fuel and is returned full) unlimited millage.  

Trailer use

The group Ifor Williams Box Trailer can also be used with the 17-seat minibus (subject to the driver having the D1+E classification on their driving license) there is an additional fee of £80 if the trailer is also required. 

Bookings 

For availability of the groups minibuses and trailer please see below calendar.  

To make a booking please complete a booking form by following the link below, this form captures the dates and times the busses & trailer are required, along with the driving license details of the driver that will be driving the bus.  On receipt of the complete booking form, you will receive an invoice based upon the information submitted.  

All bookings are considered provisional until payment has been made in full or a deposit has been paid, for bookings under £250, payment in full is required at the time of booking, any bookings over £250 require a 50% deposit at the time of booking with the balance being paid prior to collection of the bus.  Deposits & full payments can be made by Bank Transfer into the groups bank account.  The bus is usually collected from the below address in West Auckland, any change to the exact address will be confirmed closer to the pickup date. 

Minibus and Trailer Booking Form 

https://forms.gle/TGfgGLafp9xjxPPw6

Bank Transfer – Details 

Bank Name                  CAF Bank 

Account Name             1st St Helens Auckland Scout Group 

Sort Code                     40-52-40 

Ac No                          00016952 

Collection Address 

Chris Chew (Group Treasurer) 

21 Loweswater Grove 

West Auckland 

Bishop Auckland 

Co Durham 

DL14 9NA  

Please contact Chris if you want to discuss a potential booking or have any other questions.