Concessionary travel passes

Dear Mr Eriksohn

Freedom of Information Act 2000
Request for Information re concessionary travel

Thank you for your email received today requesting information under the
above Act.

It is our intention to have the information delivered to you by 27 February
2009.

The request is subject to any exemption which the Council is entitled to
apply to refuse the request, some of which are absolute and some of which
only apply where the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs
that in disclosing the information.

Once the information has been identified the Council may also ask that a fee
be paid for reproducing and transmitting the information to you. Details of
any fee to be charged will be notified as soon as possible.

Should you require any further clarification concerning this matter, please
contact me on 01403 215571.

Yours sincerely,

Sarah Gill
Communications & Information Officer
Horsham District Council
Park North
North Street
Horsham
West Sussex RH12 1RL

Tel: 01403 215571 direct

Email: [email address]

show quoted sections

Dear Mr Eriksohn,

Below are the answers to your request

Q1 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?

A1 The Council does not have any arrangement regarding those persons
who are registered with West Sussex
County Council's Social Services department as disabled on the grounds of
being a mental health user or survivor. In line with Government guidance,
we assess each application for a concessionary bus pass on the basis of
the individual circumstances of the applicant. Each applicant is asked
to provide documents in support of their request.

Q2. 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?

A2 There is no arrangement in place

Q3. 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?

A3 No arrangement exists. Beyond the statutory minimum our
passholders can travel from 9 am and apply for companion passes.

Q4. 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?

A4 We don't have records of having considered such an arrangement
with West Sussex County Council.

Q5. Would it be possible to provide copies of any relevant policy
documents you may have.

A5 In deciding on eligibility we refer to the Department For
Transport's guidance which can be found at
[1]http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/buses...

If for whatever reason you are unhappy with our response you are entitled
to pursue any dissatisfaction through the Council's Complaints Procedure.
If you are dissatisfied you may write to The Customer Focus Team, Chief
Executive's Directorate, Horsham District Council, Park North, North
Street, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1RL. Should you remain dissatisfied you
can appeal against the decision by contacting the Information
Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF.

Should you require any further clarification concerning this matter,
please contact me on 01403 214310

Julian Olszowka

The Horsham District - 3rd best quality of life in Great Britain - Halifax
Quality of Life Rankings 2008

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References

Visible links
1. http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/buses...