I dont think that is just Birmingham.There was a write up a couple of weeks regarding how much certain taxi companies were being paid taking children to and from school. It was ridiculous amounts for such short journeys.
With regard to taking no notice of the designers of a system, the Pos tOffice did believe what the designer said and refused to believe otherwise, thus ruining the lives of hundreds of sub post office workers., and the firm concerned has not yet paid compensation (or been made bankrupt)