Concessionary travel passes

Thank you for your email. If your message contains a request for information it will be dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act.

Dear Mr Eriksohn

Your request for information.

Thank you for your request for information about concessionary travel passes. Your request was received on 30th January 2009 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

In some circumstances we may charge for information. If there is a charge I will let you know as you will have to pay it before we deal with your request.

Some information does not have to be released under the Freedom of Information Act. We will check the information you have asked for and send you as much as possible. If another person or organisation is named in the information we may have to ask their opinion before we decide what we can give you.

If you have any queries about this email please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,
Hannah Quinn

FOI (30/01/2009 20:49):
from Robert Eriksohn :

Dear Sir or Madam,

I would like to make a request as regards to the concessionary
travel arrangements in your authority under the terms of Freedom of
Information Act.

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 not have such arrangements does your
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?

Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Yours faithfully,

Robert Eriksohn

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be
published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/about...

Is [Stoke on Trent City Council request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Stoke on Trent City Council? If so please contact us
using this form: http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/contact
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Hannah Quinn, Information Officer, Chief Executive's Directorate, Civic Centre Floor 4, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 1HH
t 01782 232853 f 01782 232470 e [email address]
website www.stoke.gov.uk

Help save the environment; do not print this message unless you have to.

Dear Mr Eriksohn

Your request for information on Concessionary travel passes.

We have now considered your request for information and a copy of the information is 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?
- Yes.

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?
- It is our statutory obligation to provide a free bus pass to people who have mental health issues (as long as they are not drug or alcohol misuse related) as they would be refused a driving license by the DVLA. This is not an extension on the scheme. All pass holders under this category have the same entitlement as those pass holders under all of the other categories.

3. If your 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?
- 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?
- N/A.

5. Would it be possible to provide copies of any relevant policy documents you may have?
- The Transport Act, which lists the above information along with the laws on what a bus operator and local authority are required to provide, and relevant policy documents are all available from the DfT website www.dft.gov.uk.
- A copy of the GP recommendation form, for those people who would need to have it signed by their GP before they can obtain a pass if they are applying under this category, can be downloaded from our website under concessionary fares.
- Stoke-on-Trent City Council also has an information leaflet, which is only held in hard copy but can be obtained from most council offices including local centres and libraries.

If you have any queries about this email, please do not hesitate to contact me.

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to: Tony Trickett, Information Manager, Chief Executives Directorate, Civic Centre Floor 4, Glebe Street, ST4 1HH or email [Stoke on Trent City Council request email].

If, after contacting us, you are not content with the outcome, you may ask the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the Information Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have already used our appeal procedure. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely,
Hannah Quinn

FOI (30/01/2009 20:49):
from Robert Eriksohn :

Dear Sir or Madam,

I would like to make a request as regards to the concessionary travel arrangements in your authority under the terms of Freedom of
Information Act.

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 not have such arrangements does your 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?

Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Yours faithfully,

Robert Eriksohn

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be
published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/about...

Is [Stoke on Trent City Council request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Stoke on Trent City Council? If so please contact us
using this form: http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/contact
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Hannah Quinn, Information Officer, Chief Executive's Directorate, Civic Centre Floor 4, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 1HH
t 01782 232853 f 01782 232470 e [email address]
website www.stoke.gov.uk

Help save the environment; do not print this message unless you have to.