Charnwood Borough Council - Leading in Leicestershire

Concessionary Bus Travel Bill - Overview

The Concessionary Bus Travel Bill was published on 28th November 2006. The main purpose of the Bill is to enhance social inclusion for older and disabled people by allowing them greater freedom to travel, for free, by local bus. The Bill introduced guaranteed free off peak local bus travel anywhere in England for these groups from 1st April 2008. Off peak is the same as presently used, that is between 09:30 am and 11:00 pm on Mondays to Fridays and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Concessionary transport authorities would reimburse bus operators for any concessionary local bus travel within the parameters of the national concession that starts within their area. Authorities would still be able to offer additional concessions for other modes or travel at different times or for additional groups of people.

The Delegated Powers Memorandum supporting the Bill indicates that under the Bill, as drafted, existing arrangements will apply until such time as powers are used by the Secretary of State. Authorities will be obliged to reimburse operators for any journeys made by people in their area regardless of where in England the pass holder lives. It is recognised that in areas with high tourist use this could impose additional costs on the administrative structures and finances of local authorities. In addition the national scheme is almost certain to lead to increased take up adding to the level and complexity of claims.

Clause (9) gives the Secretary of State powers to make changes to allow reimbursement to be administered on a wider geographical area (i.e. countywide) or potentially centrally. Such changes are viewed as providing greater consistency in reimbursement to operators and helping reduce the potentially greater burden on local authorities.

These powers are not included as primary legislation as the Secretary of State wishes to evaluate current arrangements before deciding whether there is a need for change and what changes might be. It is also considered prudent to have flexibility to amend them in this way in the light of experience of operating the new national concession.

In the interim the level of service which might be provided supplementary to the statutory minimum remains at the discretion of the local travel concession authority, the Borough Council, subject to the identification of a workable and affordable option.