Concessionary travel passes

Dear Mr. Eriksohn,
Thank you for your Freedom of Information enquiry dated
January 29th. I shall provide a response within 20 working days, as
required under the Act.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Hughes

Project manager & Acting Freedom of Information Officer
Oxford City Council
St. Aldate's Chambers
St. Aldate's
Oxford
OX1 1DS

Tel: 01865-252669

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Dear Mr. Eriksohn,
Thank you for your Freedom of Information enquiry dated
January 29th; please accept my apologies for the delay in replying. I
have set out the answers to your questions 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?

The Council's Concessionary Travel section does not have direct access
to information regarding those persons who are registered with
Oxfordshire County Council's Social Services department as disabled on
the grounds of having mental health issues.

In line with Central Government guidance, we assess each application for
a concessionary bus pass on the basis of the individual circumstances of
the applicant. We do not understand the term "a mental health user or
survivor" but we always ask our customers for medical evidence to
support an application on the grounds of disability.

Information relating to what the qualifying criteria are and how to
apply can be found on our web site and on the back of the application
form. The DfT's guidance notes also state that we can "check any
register ...that might be held by the Social Services Department of the
applicant's local council". As far as we can ascertain, Oxford City
Council has not yet had to check any registers held the County Council,
because our applicants to date have been able to provide sufficient
evidence in the form of a doctor's letter or specialist's health
professional report.

When assessing an application, Oxford City Council uses the DfT's
'Guidance to local authorities on eligibility for disabled people'.

There are seven eligible categories, and, in relation to applicants with
mental health issues, there are two relevant categories:

f) Is classed as learning disability, "...has a learning disability,
that is, a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which
includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning."

g) Under Section 92 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, the Secretary of State
may refuse to issue a driving licence on the grounds of the applicant's
medical fitness. People with severe mental disorder are currently barred
from holding a licence. For supporting evidence we will accept the
following information:

A supporting letter from the customers GP or Health professional

A supporting letter from Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Mental Health
NHS Foundation Trust - Adult community mental health teams

A letter from DVLA stating that the customer has been refused or has had
his/her driving licence revoked.

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?

The scheme has not been extended and adheres to the DfT guidelines by
providing the statutory minimum.

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?

Oxford City Council offers the statutory minimum.

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?

There are no plans to extend the scheme. Local authorities in England
are currently under great financial budgetary pressures. It is our view
that it is likely that the cost of running the statutory scheme will
exceed the Government grant that this council receives, thereby putting
even greater pressure on our budgets. In the light of these financial
pressures the Council has chosen, to date, to operate the scheme at the
statutory minimum level with no immediate plans to extend it.

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

Oxford City council does not have any local policy documents, relating
to concessionary travel because we follow the DfT guidance.

Our own web site explains the application process and gives information
on the different qualifying criteria.

http://www.oxford.gov.uk/transport/conce...

Below are web-links to the relevant parts of the DfT website.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/buses...

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/buses...
uthorities/guidancedisabled/

http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/arch...
oncessionar1985

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/buses...
uthorities/guidancedisabled/ancetolocalauthoritieson3561.pdf

For general enquiries about the Act and concessionary travel policy, you
can contact officials at the DfT by E mail:
[email address].

I hope this assists, but if you disagree with any part of this response
you are entitled to ask Oxford City Council for an internal review of
the decision(s) made. You may do this by writing to The Monitoring
Officer, Oxford City Council, The Town Hall, Blue Boar Street, Oxford,
OX1 4EY. If, after the result of an internal review, you are still not
satisfied, you may ask the Information Commissioner to intervene on your
behalf. You may do this by writing to The Information Commissioner's
Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Hughes

Project Manager & Acting Freedom of Information Officer

Oxford City Council
St. Aldate's Chambers
St. Aldate's
Oxford
OX1 1DS

Tel: 01865-252669

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