Minutes

43      CONCESSIONARY FARES 2022/23 – PUBLICATION OF DRAFT SCHEME – The Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director: Commercial submitted a report seeking approval of a draft scheme for concessionary fares reimbursement.

The council, as a Travel Concession Authority, had a duty to provide free travel for older people and people with disabilities between 9.30am and 11.00pm, Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and bank holidays.  This was part of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme.  Bus operators were reimbursed for concessionary passengers that travelled on local registered bus services boarding within North Lincolnshire. 

In addition to the statutory scheme, the council provided the following discretionary enhancements for those with North Lincolnshire issued passes:

·       Free travel on local bus services before 9.30am and after 11.00pm Monday to Fridays;

·       Free or discounted local train travel; and

·       Free bus travel or discounted local rail travel for companions of disabled people who could not use buses or train on their own.

With effect from 2017/18, the council had moved to a voluntary capped fund arrangement with bus operators.  The Department for Transport’s (DfT) reimbursement calculator was used as the basis for negotiations.  It was proposed that this methodology was continued, but payments would be gradually adjusted over the course of 2022/23 to reflect concessionary passengers carried.  Initial analysis of concessionary travel during 2021/22 showed trip numbers had drastically decreased compared with the previous years before the Covid 19 pandemic.

Smaller operators with infrequent services (e.g., once per week) and community transport providers would have simpler arrangements which was permitted in DfT guidance.

The law required the council to issue passes to eligible residents.  Bus operators were reimbursed for carrying concessionary passholders, on a “no better off and no worse off” basis.

The qualifying age for the elderly pass was issued in line with the state pension age (currently 66).  This had seen a reduction in passes issued in North Lincolnshire over the past decade as it has increased from the age of 60 since 2010. 

From 6 April 2022, the Department of Transport had introduced a phased approach for the transition back down to actual concessionary patronage levels. Local Transport Authorities would steadily reduce pre-Covid concessionary payments to operators over the next financial year until such point that operators were reimbursed for the concessionary passengers they carried.

Resolved – (a) That the Draft Scheme for concessionary fares reimbursement be approved, and (b) that amendments to any aspect of the scheme, before the final scheme is published in early March 2022, be considered.