Dear Mr Eriksohn

Freedom of Information Act 2000 - Request for Information

I am writing in respect of your enquiry dated 29 January, for information held by the Council. Your enquiry is being dealt with under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

1. You have requested information relating to the concessionary travel arrangements in the authority:

i) Does the 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?

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

iii). If the authority does not have such arrangements does your authority have some other arrangement beyond the statuary minimum to provide passes to those with mental health issues?

iv). If the 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?

v). You would like to be provided with copies of any relevant policy documents the authority may have.

i). One of the eligible criteria is "A person who if he applied for the grant of a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988, would have his application refused pursuant to section 92 of the Act (physical fitness) otherwise than on the ground of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol."

ii). Not applicable.

iii). The authority does not have other arrangements beyond the statutory minimum to provide passes to those with mental health issues.

iv) The financing arrangements of concessionary fares, where all the risk is placed on local authorities, means that this Council is not prepared to fund any discretions to the statutory scheme.

v) Please see attached.

3. If you are unhappy with the way in which your enquiry has been dealt with, you may ask for an internal review by initiating the Council's Corporate Complaints Procedure, details of which may be obtained by logging onto the Council's website http://www.dartford.gov.uk/council/ or telephoning or emailing me. Should you remain dissatisfied with the decision on internal review, you may appeal to the Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow SK9 5AF.

I would be grateful if you would address any future correspondence you may have in relation to this matter, to me, quoting the reference number FOI 472. Please familiarise yourself with the informative on re-use of information.

Yours sincerely

Steve Brooks

Head of Finance and Resources

INFORMATIVE

THE RE-USE OF PUBLIC SECTOR INFORMATION

The Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations came into force on 1st July 2005.

The first step towards re-using public sector information is to know what significant information is available for re-use.

All documents registered within the Council's Publication Scheme (with the exception of those documents where charges apply) are available for re-use on the terms of the Licence to Reproduce Public Sector Information. No re-use fee is charged under this licence. http://venus.dartford.gov.uk/Data_protection/FOI/documents/FreeLicence.pdf

Private Study and Non-Commercial Re-use of Information

The Council's standard Licence to Reproduce Public Sector Information applies.

Re-use of Information for Commercial Gain

If you intend to re-use the material for commercial gain then you must write to the relevant Department or author of the material concerned, giving full details of your proposed use of the material, including whether you intend to publish and sell the material as part of your product. You will be advised of any charge due to be paid in these circumstances and the terms of a specific licence for re-use for commercial purposes will be agreed. Please note that any fees already paid (if any) under the Freedom of Information legislation in respect of the information will be deducted from the charge for its re-use.

FOI NO 472 R Eriksohn.doc Page 3 of 3

Steve Brooks Head of Finance & Resources

Mr R Eriksohn

By email

[FOI #6971 email]