Purpose

To seek approval to update the Council’s
approach to concessionary fare reimbursement for local bus
operators from 1 April 2022 until 31 March 2023 in line following
preparatory negotiations and revised guidance from the Department
for Transport (DfT).

Content

That Cabinet
approves proposal to maintain the pre-Covid levels of concessionary
fares reimbursement for local bus operators for the financial year
April 2023 to March 2024 in line with the Department for Transport
(DfT) Supplementary Note for 2023-24 (see Appendix 1) Which will
enable monthly concessionary payments to be made at a Pre Covid-19
reimbursement level, on the basis that local bus services are
likewise maintained at an equivalent to Pre Covid levels. Which
would be reviewed on a six-monthly basis in recognition of the
ever-changing market environment.
 
Furthermore, that Cabinet approves the retention
of remaining revenue funding currently budgeted for concessionary
travel reimbursement, above the outlined levels of reimbursement,
for the purpose of providing further support to local bus services
on the Island and other transport related
pressures. Any
decisions on funding would be carried out in consultation with the
Director of Finance Services/S151 Officer and
the Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure,
Highways PFI and Transport Strategy