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The following item contains exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

118 (23) PUBLIC TRANSPORT: CONCESSIONARY FARE SCHEME STATEMENT FOR 2011/12 – The Director of Infrastructure Services submitted a report seeking approval of the council’s Concessionary Fare Scheme Statement for 2011/12. The statement set out the terms and conditions of the council’s concessionary fare scheme, including benefits to passholders and reimbursement to bus operators.

An urgent decision was required, as the revised rate should be implemented by 1 April 2011, to allow an adequate consultation period with bus operators. The delay was mainly due to late guidance from Central Government, as identified in paragraph 4.3 of the report.

By law, the Council was obliged to provide free travel on local buses for people who were 60 and over and people with disabilities. There were over 33,000 North Lincolnshire travel passes in circulation. The council reimbursed bus operators for the money they lost by carrying passholders at no fare. They should be no better off and no worse off because of the existence of the scheme. In practice, however, this balance was difficult to establish.

All operators had the opportunity to give their views during the four-month period before the scheme took effect.

Resolved – (a) That the council adopt an overall reimbursement rate of 60.1 per cent as from 1 June 2011 using the updated TAS option, and (b) that the draft Concessionary Fare Scheme Statement for 2011/12 be approved

Where there is no report this is because it is exempt, as it contains information which is considered to be of a confidential nature, as detailed in the Local Government (Access to Information) Act.

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