Concessionary travel passes

[1]Picture (Device Independent Bitmap)FOI D & CE DEPARTMENT

Civic Offices, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth, PO1 2AL

Telephone: 023 9268 8482

Fax: 023 9284 1327

Reference: FOI2009071

Dear Robert Eriksohn,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - INFORMATION REQUEST

Thank you for your request for information received on 30/01/2009.

Your request is being considered and, subject to the points made below,
you will receive the information requested as promptly as possible within
the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.

If we need to obtain more information from you in order to understand what
information you require, we will contact you. If this is the case, the 20
days time limit will not commence until your request has been clarified.

The Act defines a number of exemptions that may prevent release of certain
information. The City Council will consider whether any of these
exemptions apply and, where required by the Act, whether it is in the
public interest to release the information. If we have to make a public
interest test, the 20 day time limit might be extended. We will inform you
if the time scale has to be extended and if any information is withheld
and of your rights of appeal.

The City Council would like to make you aware that disclosure of
information obtained through FOIA is a disclosure into the public domain.

The City Council's standard approach is to provide the information in the
form in which we hold it. If you require alternative formats, e.g. audio,
large print, etc. or a different language, please let me know and we will
provide it if reasonably practicable to do so. If your request is a
question and we do not hold the answer in recorded form we will try and
provide an answer where we are able.

There may be a fee payable for this information request and we will send
you a Fees Notice if this is the case. Any fee must be paid before the
request is provided. The time between the issue of the Fees Notice and
receipt of payment is excluded from the calculation of the 20 working day
time limit.

Any personal information you provide in relation to this request will only
be used for the purposes of processing your request for information.

If you have any queries or concerns then please contact the Corporate
Information Governance Officer at Portsmouth City Council, Civic Offices,
Guildhall Square, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 2GB, telephone 023 9268 8482,
e-mail [email address].

Yours sincerely

Peter Harding

Corporate Information Governance Officer.

Did you know?

In the last three years we've refurbished about 300,000 square metres of
pavement, alongside more than 300 roads.

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References

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[1]Picture (Device Independent Bitmap)FOI D & CE DEPARTMENT

Civic Offices, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth, PO1 2AL

Telephone: 023 9268 8482

Fax: 023 9284 1327

Our Ref: FOI2009071

Your Ref:

Dear Robert Eriksohn,

Date
26/02/2009

FOI INFORMATION REQUEST - INFO PROVIDED

Thank you for your request for information received on 30/01/2009
which was considered under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

In accordance with FOIA Portsmouth City Council confirms it holds the
information. Please find enclosed the information requested.

My response to each point is as follows:

1. Any resident of Portsmouth who is registered with Social
Services as having a learning disability can apply to the City
Council for a concessionary travel pass. Such persons have been
variously defined in relevant legislation as "persons who are
suffering from mental handicap or severe mental handicap" (prior
to 1992), "persons with a learning disability, that is, a state of
arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes
significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning"
(since 1992) or, more recently, as "people who are learning
disabled":

2. Any such person has been eligible to apply for travel
concessions since the enabling legislation was introduced in The
Transport Act 1985 (Extension of Eligibility for Travel
Concessions) Order 1986 (SI 1986/1385). The City Council extended
its scheme to include these additional eligible residents as soon
as the legislation permitted this, as it was considered to be a
useful benefit for residents, many of whom would probably be
reliant on buses for travel. Anyone who is eligible and who
registers for a travel concession will automatically be sent a
letter at the time of renewal detailing the arrangements for the
concession for the following year.

3. Any eligible resident who does not want the free bus pass that
is currently on offer, can opt to receive travel tokens (that can
be used on taxis) instead. For disabled people, the annual value
of the tokens is currently £40.00.

4. Not applicable.

5. There are a number of Committee / Executive Reports on the
subject of Concessionary Fares that could be sent to the FOI
requester; please advise.

Under the Re- Use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005 (SI
2005/1515) the supplied information may not be re-used without
obtaining the permission of Portsmouth City Council.

Portsmouth City Council in complying with their statutory duty under
sections 1 and 11 of the Freedom of Information Act to release the
enclosed information will not breach the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988. However, the rights of the copyright holder of the
enclosed information will continue to be protected by the law.  If
you wish to use this information, you may require approval or licence
from the copyright holder.

If you have any queries or concerns please contact the Corporate
Information Governance Officer at Portsmouth City Council, Civic
Offices, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 2AL, telephone
023 9268 8482, e-mail [2][email address].

Further information is also available from the Information
Commissioner at:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Telephone: 01625 545 700

[3]www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Mr Peter Harding

Information Governance Officer

Did you know?

In the last three years we've refurbished about 300,000 square metres of
pavement, alongside more than 300 roads.

show quoted sections

References

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2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/