Mr Robert Eriksohn

[FOI #6937 email]

Our Ref: LMC/L02.E 20 February 2009

Dear Robert

Re Your Request for Information

I refer to your e-mail of 29 January 2009 to Worthing Borough Council asking for

“1. Does your authority provide concessionary travel passes to those individuals registered with their local Social Services department as disabled on the grounds of being a mental health user or survivor?

2. If your authority does have such arrangements why was the decision taken to extend the scheme in this way and what arrangements are in place?

3. If your authority does have such arrangements does you authority have some other arrangement beyond the statuary minimum to provide passes to those with mental health issues?

4. If your authority does not have such arrangements why was the decision taken not to extend the scheme in this way and has consideration been given to extending the scheme in this way in the future?

5. Would it be possible to provide copies of any relevant policy documents you may have.''

Please find answers to your questions listed below.

Question 1: We provide passes to anyone who applies and meets the appropriate eligibility criteria as laid down in the Transport Act 2000. Whilst there are a number of different criteria (disabled/deaf/blind etc), this would come under the category of significant learning disability and the Act defines eligibility as "a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes impairment of intelligence and social functioning" We seek confirmation of eligibility and accept as proof, receipt of Disability Living Allowance at the higher rate (for mobility) or if that is not to hand, specific confirmation from the applicants GP that they meet the criteria.

Question 2: No specific arrangements exist with Social Services and to my knowledge we have not been approached.

Question 3: See Question 2 above.

Question 4: See Question 2 above. I have no knowledge at all about any registration process for people who are "disabled on the grounds of being a mental health user or survivor" nor of any approach we might have had from Social Services on this issue. Whether we would consider extending the scheme we have if we were approached, would probably depend upon the implications (financial /precedent /other implications etc).

Question 5: The Transport Act 2000, the Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 and the Department of Transport's Guidance to Local Authorities can be found on the DofT's public website.

If you are unhappy with the way that this request has been resolved, then you may ask for an internal review of this decision by writing to Jeremy Cook at Legal Service, Worthing Borough Council, Town Hall, Chapel Road, Worthing, BN11 1HA. He will then arrange for the case to be reviewed.

You may also make a complaint under Section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act to the Information Commissioner, who can be contacted at Whycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF. However please note that he would normally expect that any internal review procedures have been exhausted prior to contacting him.

This response is personal to you and no consent to publish it, for instance on a website, is given. Any application for consent to re-use information will be considered under the Re-Use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005, but if consent is given a charge may be made to you.

Yours sincerely

Kevin Masters

Executive Head of Customer Services



Executive Head of Customer Services

Kevin Masters

PO Box 5000, Worthing, BN11 1JN

Adur and Worthing Councils - Working in partnership for both communities

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