Concessionary Travel funding problems

A Liberal Democrat Councillor has raised the issue of Concessionary Travel funding. Bill Boulter, Liberal Democrat Chairman of a cross party Scrutiny Panel on Concessionary Travel, reported the panels findings at today Cabinet meeting.

Bill Boulter, Chairman of the Panel, said: "The panel looked into the potential problems that the County Council could face when it takes over the concessionary travel from District and Borough Councils next year.

One problem is pre-9:30 travel which is currently offered to everyone over 60 in Leicestershire by all but one district. This exceeds the mandatory scheme funded by the government and is topped up from local funding currently provided by district councils. Running this earlier service costs more and the panel that I chaired took the unanimous decision to recommend that the pre-9:30 travel is maintained. But I have concerns that the Conservative administration will not keep the pre-9:30 services when it transfers from the Districts to the county Council next year, which would have a massive affect on the County's elderly residents."

Mr Boulter intends to keep monitoring the situation and hopes that the Cabinet will maintain the service.