Concessionary travel passes

Good Morning Mr Eriksohn,

I acknowledge receipt of your Freedom of Information requests to the
Borough of Poole regarding concessionary travel. This has been logged as
FOI0180109 and forwarded on to my colleagues in our Transportation
Services Unit who will endeavour to respond to you asap.

Kind Regards

Corporate FOI Officer

Strategic Planning Services

Borough of Poole

Civic Centre, BH15 2RU

Tel: 01202 633367

Email: [Poole Borough Council request email]

boroughofpoole.com/opinions - our consultation planner, results and
on-line consultations boroughofpoole.com/statistics - Poole statistics
on-line boroughofpoole.com/wherecanifind - our on-line mapping service

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Dear Mr Eriksohn,

RE: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST

Thank you for your information request dated 29 January 2009 received
via email.

We are dealing with your request and will be in contact with you again.

In most cases we will reply within 20 working days. If, for any reason,
this is not possible we will let you know.

Yours sincerely

Elaine Buckley
Business & Performance Manager
Borough of Poole
e-mail: [email address]
Tel: (01202 26) 2001

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Dear Mr Eriksohn

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

Your request has been considered and I have answered you questions below
each point.

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?

The Concessionary Travel Scheme regulations applied by the Borough of
Poole are
the nationwide scheme set out in Concessionary Fares Passes Regulations
and the Department for Transport (DfT) Guidance (link attached below).
These do not specifically mention mental health users or survivors. If
an individual meets any of the criteria listed in the guidance they will
received a concessionary travel pass and this may include, for example,
someone who has or could be refused a driving licence for reasons
related to mental health issues.

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?
N/A

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?

N/A

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?

No decision has been taken not to have such arrangements by this
Council. The Borough of Poole issue passes based on the guidance from
the DfT.

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

The following link will take you to the Department for Transport
'Guidance to local authorities on assessing eligibility of disabled
people in England for Concessionary Bus Travel' issue February 2008 -
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/buses...
uthorities/guidancedisabled/ancetolocalauthoritieson3561.pdf

In addition, I have attached a copy of Concessionary Travel Application
Form used by this Council.

If you are dissatisfied with this response you can ask for a review,
which will be dealt with through the Council's complaints procedure.
Details of the complaints procedure can be found at
http://www.boroughofpoole.com/directory/...
a:Complaints/

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of the Council's review you
have the right to refer the matter to the Information Commissioner's
Office. Contact details for the Information Commissioner can be found
at:
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

If I can be of further assistance on this subject please contact me.

Yours sincerely

Karen Fry
Passenger Transport Co-ordinator
Transportation Services
Borough of Poole
St John's House
Serpentine Road
Poole
BH15 2DX
01202 262242
Email:[email address]

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