The South Glos Post

South Gloucestershire Council’s Conservative transport chief has revealed that the authority is considering legal action after Ministers confirmed a larger than expected cut to the district’s bus budget.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed its intention to cut funding for free over 60s bus travel by £390K from April 1st.

This is £50k more than the £340k funding cut that had been proposed as part of plans announced by the Department for Transport (DfT) at the end of 2009 to change the distribution of funding for the national concessionary travel scheme for the 2010/11 financial year.

At £390k, it is the biggest loss for any council outside London.

This unexpected cut is despite the fact that 2010/11 will be the third year of a supposedly 3 year funding settlement that was designed to provide certainty for councils.

(more…)

Source: Conservative Group on South Gloucestershire Council

A youth concessionary fares trial gets underway in South Gloucestershire as the first passes are handed out to pupils at Marlwood School.

South Gloucestershire Council is running the trial of a new youth concessions scheme giving discounted bus travel to those in full-time education or training who are between 14-18 years old, offering half adult fare on all evening, weekend and school holiday journeys.

Marlwood School is the first to trial the scheme and the council is continuing to work with other schools in the district until the full scheme, called ‘Youth Unltd’, launches in April/May.

The council has allocated £1.2 million towards the scheme which was designed following extensive consultation and in response to requests for reduced fares from young people within South Gloucestershire. A typical bus journey will now cost £1 to £2 using the new card.

Cllr John Calway, Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, who helped hand out the first batch of passes, said: “I am proud that South Gloucestershire is one of just a handful of councils in the country who have actively addressed the issue of the affordability of public transport for young peoplebetween 14 and 18 years old.

(more…)

Source: South Gloucestershire Council

South Gloucestershire Council’s Conservative transport chief is urging residents to petition the Prime Minister to drop government plans to slash the district’s bus budget by £340,000.

The funding cut is proposed as part of plans announced by the Department for Transport (DfT) at the end of 2009 to change the distribution of funding for the national concessionary travel scheme for the 2010/11 financial year.

At £340k, this would be the biggest loss for any council outside London.

The cut was unexpected as 2010/11 is only the third year of 3 year funding deal that was designed to provide certainty for councils.

The national concessionary travel scheme, which provides free off-peak bus travel for older residents, should be government-funded, however South Gloucestershire Council already has to use £1.1m of local money to support the scheme.

A further £340k cut in central funding would take the annual shortfall up to nearly £1.5m.

(more…)

Source: Conservative Group on South Gloucestershire Council

South Gloucestershire Council’s Conservative transport chief is reminding residents that they have seven days to respond to Government plans to slash the district’s bus budget by £340,000.

The funding cut is proposed as part of plans announced recently by the Department for Transport (DfT) to change the distribution of funding for the national concessionary travel scheme for the 2010/11 financial year. At £340k, this is the biggest loss for any council outside London.

This unexpected cut is despite the fact that 2010/11 will be the third year of a supposedly three year funding settlement that was designed to provide certainty for councils.

The national concessionary travel scheme, which provides free bus travel for older residents, should be government-funded, however South Gloucestershire Council already has to use £1.1m of local money to support the scheme.

A further £340k cut in central funding would take the annual shortfall up to nearly £1.5m.

The Government has been criticised for failing to publicly reveal the methodology that has been used to arrive at the £340K figure.

Cllr Brian Allinson, South Gloucestershire’s Conservative transport chief, is encouraging residents to respond to the consultation, saying:

“Despite our attempts, the Government has still not been able to properly explain why our district has been picked out for especially harsh treatment and we are continuing to press the Government to publicly reveal the formula and data they have used to arrive at their funding cut.

Not only are we already one of the lowest funded councils of our kind in the country, but South Gloucestershire council tax payers are already forking out £1.1m to support what is supposed to be a nationally-funded scheme.

Ministers are simply planning to rob Peter again to pay more to Paul.”

He added:

“I know it is a big ask, but if residents are able to find a spare moment over the busy Christmas and New Year period, then I would encourage them to respond to the DfT consultation before it formally closes on 30 December, so we can demonstrate the strength of local feeling there is on this important issue.

Personal responses from individual residents have a powerful role to play in complementing and strengthening the council’s own robust response that opposes the Government’s plans.”

The DfT consultation closes on 30 December 2009 and consultation response forms can be downloaded from the DfT website.

Source: Conservative Group on South Gloucestershire Council