Environment Cabinet Member – Minutes – 3 March 2017

19 (19) CONCESSIONARY FARES 2017/18 – PUBLICATION OF FINAL SCHEME – The Director of Operations submitted an urgent report seeking to review the method used to set the reimbursement rate for the council’s concessionary fare scheme, and seeking approval for a “Final Scheme” for concessionary fares reimbursement for 2017/18.

The Cabinet Member took a decision on 1 December 2016 (minute 15 refers) to use the method recommended by the Department for Transport (DfT) to calculate the reimbursement rates for the council’s concessionary fare scheme for 2017/18.  This decision was deferred for one year by continuing with the old methodology for 2016/17.  Discussions had subsequently been held with operators with further discussion at North Lincolnshire’s Quality Bus Partnership.

Calculations were made with bus operators using the currently methodology, the DfT methodology using different variables and consideration of a fixed pot.

Feedback had been received from two operators; both were supportive of the voluntary fixed pot methodology.

The matter was urgent as the final scheme had to be published by 3 March 2017, in order for it to come into effect on 1 April 2017.

Resolved – (a) That the Final Scheme, as set out in the appendix to the report, be approved for an initial period of one year, and (b) that in addition to the statutory scheme, the council also provide the following discretionary enhancements for North Lincolnshire residents:

• Free travel on local bus services before 9.30am and after 11.00pm Mondays to Fridays;
• Free or discounted local train travel; and
• Free bus travel or discounted rail train travel for companions of disabled people who could not use buses or trains on their own.