National Bus Pass Scheme to become Kent Responsibility in 2011

Folkestone Councillor Tim Prater has been told that responsibility for the national bus pass scheme will pass from District Councils to Kent and Medway Councils from April 2011. The news came in response to an email from Tim Prater to Kent County Cabinet member for Transport Nick Chard asking for Kent to consider taking on the responsibility which will have cost Shepway District Council around £1 million in the last two years.

In his reply to Cllr Prater, Nick Chard said:

"The Government recently consulted on whether responsibility for the Concessionary Fares scheme should move to upper tier authorities. I understand a decision has now been taken and the County Council will become the Travel Concession Authority for Kent, along with Medway Council, from April 2011 and that the Minister will be writing to Chief Executives to inform them of this decision in the next month or so."

Lib Dem Councillor Tim Prater was delighted with the news. He said:

"We will wait to see what the detail of this move will be, but if it means that Shepway will no longer have to pick up the bill then that's great news. This scheme that was meant to be fully funded by Government but will have cost Shepway around £1.5 million in the three years to April 2011 - money which will be cut from other services."