Minutes

13      CONCESSIONARY FARES 2023/24 – PUBLICATION OF DRAFT SCHEME – The Director: Economy and Environment submitted an urgent 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.  For 2023/34 the council was open to exploring alternative bus operator reimbursement approaches to the standard method.  If there was no agreement with the council and bus operators for an alternative bus operator reimbursement approach, then the standard method of reimbursement would be adopted.

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. 

The council acknowledged the current situation with regard to Covid-19 and the measures that had been put in place to reimburse bus operators for concessionary travel at pre-Covid levels since April 2020, as encouraged by the Department for Transport.  The standard method of reimbursement in North Lincolnshire was aligned with national guidance issue by the Department for Transport.

An urgent decision was required as the draft scheme must be published by 1 December 2022.

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 2023, be considered.