Minutes

2        CONCESSIONARY FARES 2024-25 – PUBLICATION OF FINAL SCHEME – The Director: Communities submitted a report seeking approval for a “Final Scheme” for concessionary fares reimbursement, enabling and supporting travel options for vulnerable people.

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 (ENCTS).  The council reimbursed bus operators for concessionary passengers that travelled on local registered bus services boarding within North Lincolnshire. 

With effect from 2017/18, the council had moved to a voluntary capped fund arrangement with bus operators. The council used the Department for Transport’s (DfT) reimbursement calculator as the basis for negotiations.

For 2023/24 the council reimbursed operators at 100% of pre-COVID payments, in line with guidance from the DfT issued in November 2022. Any new operators were reimbursed using the published DfT guidance and calculator using actual ENCTS pass usage.

Smaller operators with infrequent services (eg once per week) and community transport providers had 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.

There were currently 23326 North Lincolnshire passes in circulation. The breakdown of the passes was detailed at paragraph 2.5 of the report.

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 had increased from the age of 60 since 2010. 

Resolved – That the Draft Scheme attached to the report be approved.