Issue - meetings

To seek approval to continue to maintain statutory concessionary travel reimbursement payments to local bus service operators at pre-COVID levels in line with government expectations. To note the government’s implementation of a concessionary travel recovery strategy at the start of the next financial year (2022/23) which will facilitate Travel Concession Authorities (TCAs) to return to making payments to meet the actual patronage levels. 

RECOMMENDED that: -

(a)     the current 2021/22 scheme year Cabinet recommends to Council support for the continued concessionary travel reimbursement of bus operators at the adjusted pre-COVID levels with an expected saving of £350k: and

RESOLVED that:-

(b)    Cabinet acknowledges the government’s published Covid-19 Recovery Guidance for the start of the next financial year (2022/23) and recommends to Council that concessionary travel reimbursement payments and associated budget allocation to bus operators are adjusted in accordance with the guidance.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Sustainability and Transport

Reason

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact on bus travel including concessionary passenger journeys. The recovery has been slower than expected and journeys undertaken remain at between 60 and 70 per cent of pre-COVID levels. Government guidance continues to be for Travel Concession Authorities to maintain concessionary travel reimbursement at adjusted pre-COVID levels in support of vital local bus service providers so that they can continue to play a central role in our community after the pandemic.

Without this reimbursement there would be a substantial loss of bus services across the BCP area. This would have the greatest impact on young people, older people and families from lower income households, disabled people and women. All these groups rely more on bus services than the general population.

A phased move towards reimbursement again being based on concessionary journeys alone is recommended by government through its Covid-19 Recovery Guidance. This is intended to get bus services back on a healthy path to recovery.

The Portfolio Holder for Sustainability and Transport presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'H' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the report sought approval to continue to maintain statutory concessionary travel reimbursement payments to local bus service operators at pre-COVID levels in line with government expectations.

In relation to this Cabinet was informed of the government’s implementation of a concessionary travel recovery strategy at the start of the next financial year (2022/23) which will facilitate Travel Concession Authorities (TCAs) to return to making payments to meet the actual patronage levels. 

RECOMMENDED that: -

(a)     the current 2021/22 scheme year Cabinet recommends to Council support for the continued concessionary travel reimbursement of bus operators at the adjusted pre-COVID levels with an expected saving of £350k: and

RESOLVED that:-

(b)    Cabinet acknowledges the government’s published Covid-19 Recovery Guidance for the start of the next financial year (2022/23) and recommends to Council that concessionary travel reimbursement payments and associated budget allocation to bus operators are adjusted in accordance with the guidance.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Sustainability and Transport

To consider the Concessionary Bus Fares Policy report scheduled for Cabinet consideration on 15 December 2021

The O&S Board is asked to scrutinise and comment on the report and if required make recommendations or observations as appropriate.

Cabinet member invited to attend for this item: Councillor Mike Greene, Portfolio Holder for Sustainability and Transport

The Cabinet report for this item is included with the agenda for consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Board.

Concessionary Bus Fares Policy Report - The Portfolio Holder for Sustainability and Transport presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each member of the Board and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these minutes in the Minute Book. The Portfolio Holder and officers addressed a number of points raised by the Board including:

What were the bus companies being asked to do to proactively encourage the public and concessionary bus users back into using buses more often. The Portfolio Holder advised that the bus companies were working very well with the Council to get to where they needed to be there were considerable issues with this at present.

The Portfolio Holder was asked whether there had been a permanent shift in how older people were using their bus passes and whether there had been any consideration given to the funding model addressing concessionary bus fare users. The Portfolio Holder advised that there was a chance that there would be a drop in usage but that this would be similar to that experienced with other forms of transport. There had not been any consideration so far into different funding arrangements. It was noted that this was a national scheme, and it was expected that in future passenger numbers would return to their previous levels.

The Chairman summarised that the Board did not have any major issues with the report as it was and thanked the Portfolio Holder for attending and answering the Board’s questions.