Dear Mr Eriksohn

Request for Information

Thank you for your request for information under of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, received by the Council on 29 January 2009.

I confirm that you information you requested is held and is disclosed below:

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?

Concessionary travel passes can be provided to anyone (regardless of age) within Shepway who are disabled, under a number of categories, as follows:

 Registered Blind

 partially sighted

 profoundly or severely deaf

 without speech

 Have a disability or suffered and injury which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to walk

 without the use of both arms

 suffers from learning disability

 would have been refused a driving license on medical grounds (expect on grounds of drink or drug misuse)

If the applicant were disabled on the grounds of mental health, which falls within one of these categories, we would certainly provide them with a pass.

We do not, as standard, automatically provide passes to all customers registered disabled under mental health grounds, unless they apply to us.

The Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 provides for a statutory guarantee of free off-peak travel for eligible older and disabled people on local bus services anywhere in England.

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?

Not applicable

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?

Not applicable

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?

The Council has not considered extending the scheme specifically to cover those registered as a mental health user or survivor and has no immediate plans to do so.

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

Details of the Council's concessionary travel scheme are available via our website, using the following link: http://www.shepway.gov.uk/content/view/1999/4173/

If you are not satisfied with the handling of your request, you may wish to appeal against the decision. Please put any appeal in writing to the Chief Executive to the Information Appeals Officer, who will review the original decision, at:

Legal and Democratic Services

Shepway District Council

Civic Centre

Castle Hill Avenue

Folkestone

CT20 2QY

If any complaint is not resolved to your complete satisfaction, having exhausted the internal appeal procedure, you have a right under section 50 of the Act to apply to the Information Commissioner for review at:

The Information Commissioner

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire SK9 5AF

www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Claire Thomas

Freedom of Information Officer

Legal and Democratic Services

Shepway District Council