ENCTS concession bus passes reimbursement for bus operators.

RE: Your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000

Case Reference: RFI 5203

Dear James Knight

Thank you for your email.

It will be treated as a request within the meaning of the Act: this means that we will send you a full response within 20 working days, either supplying you with the information which you want, or explaining to you why we cannot supply it.

If we need any further clarification or there is any problem we will be in touch.

Yours sincerely

Disclosures Team
Customer Relations and Information Governance Compliance and Assurance Service Cheshire West and Chester Council
Tel: 0300 123 8 123 (Customer Contact Centre)
Email: [email address]
Visit: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

Cheshire West and Chester Council is committed to ensuring the security and protection of the personal information that we process and to provide a compliant and consistent approach to data protection. To learn more about how we handle your personal information when you contact the Council’s Data Protection and Compliance Team, please see our Advice, Enquiries and Complaints Privacy Notice on the Council's website or ask for a copy of the notice to be sent to you.

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Dear James Knight,

 

Thank you for your request for information of 28 March 2022 which has
been logged as RFI 5203 and has been dealt with under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. We confirm that Cheshire West and Chester Council
holds information relating to your request.

 

For the purpose of clarity your request has been reproduced below with
responses;

 

Can you please tell me how much money you reimburse bus operators for
acceptance of ENCTS passes?

 

What do they get paid?

 

Also how is it worked out?

 

Is it just a set amount per journey regardless of length?

 

Is it a percentage of the Single fare or Return fare or average cost of
fares on the route?

 

If so what percentage? Is it the same amount for all given to all bus
operators?

 

Are the reimbursement rates for the OAP version and Disabled version the
same? Also what is the policy for cross border routes that start in your
area and finish in another council or start in another council and finish
in your area and how is reimbursement dealt with for such journeys that
cross a border?

 

Finally can you advise the total amount of money you have given to each
bus operator in ENCTS reimbursements that runs in your council area within
each year for the past five years (so i require all of the periods of
01/01/2017-31/12/2017 and 01/01/2018-31/12/2018 and 01/01/2019-31/12/2019
and 01/01/2020-31/12/2020 and 01/01/2021-31/12/2021 are the five periods i
need) and the list must show the total amount of reimbursement money for
each year broken down in to how much has been given to each bus operator
that runs in your council area?

 

 

Attached in Excel document are the total payments made for each month in
the requested years. We are unable to provide the information by bus
operator for commercial sensitivity reasons. This is exempted under
section 43 of the FOIA 2000 for commercial confidentiality as release of
this information would impact on the council and the suppliers of such
services. We can provide the information as detailed below,

 

Cheshire West and Chester pays 53% of the average adult fare for each
operator. The average adult fare is calculated each financial year (April
to March) for each operator. The data used is for Adult single (ratio 1 
journey). Adult return (ratio 2 journeys) and Adult day tickets (ratio 2.8
journeys).

 

Operators are paid for elderly and disabled customers at the same rate.

 

Regarding cross boundary journeys Cheshire West and Chester pays for every
English customer that starts their journey in the Cheshire West and
Chester  borough area. The one difference is for services which cross the
border into Wales (start and/or finish in Cheshire West and Chester). For
these services Cheshire West and Chester will only pay for English pass
holders who start or finish their journey in Cheshire West and Chester.

 

The Council does not pay for Welsh pass holders who start their journey in
Cheshire West and Chester. These are paid for by our neighbouring Welsh
authorities.

 

From April 2020 to December 2021 operators have been paid an average of
December 2019 January 2020t and February 2020 rather than on actuals. This
is because of Covid-19 and follows Department for Transport guidance.

 

For more information on the exemption under section 43 please see attached
link  [1]Section 43 - Commercial interests | ICO

 

 

The Council considers that your request has been answered in full by
either confirming that information is not held, providing you with the
information requested, or explaining why any information has been withheld
and the reasons for any redaction. Where applicable, the Council has also
told you the reasons for the delay in responding to your request.

 

If you are unhappy with the way your request for information has been
handled you can request a review by writing to the Disclosures Team within
40 working days from the date of the Council’s response.

 

You are entitled to a review by the Council if:

·       You are dissatisfied with the Council’s explanation of why the
application was not dealt with within the 20 working day time limit.

·       All the information requested is not being disclosed and you have
not received an explanation why some information is not being disclosed.

·       A reason for the disclosures under the request being refused is
not received.

·       You consider that exemptions have been wrongly applied, and/or

·       You consider that a fee has been wrongly applied.

 

Please set out your grounds for seeking a review together with what
specific part of your request those grounds apply to and the outcome you
are seeking. The Council reserves the right to ask you for clarification
of the grounds for your review request if the grounds are not clear, and
to delay commencing the review if such grounds are not provided.

 

The Disclosures Team can be contacted by email via:
[2][Cheshire West and Chester Council request email] or at the following address:

 

Disclosures Team

Cheshire West and Chester Council

4 Civic Way

Ellesmere Port

CH64 0BE

 

The Disclosures Team will acknowledge a request for an internal review
within 5 working days and complete the review as soon as possible and no
later than 40 working days from receipt of the request.

 

More information about the Council’s internal review process can be found
via:

[3]http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk...

 

If you remain dissatisfied following the outcome of your review, you have
a right of appeal to the Information Commissioner at:

 

The Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire SK9 5AF

 

Telephone: 08456 30 60 60 or 01625 54 57 45

Website: [4]www.ico.org.uk

 

There is no charge for making an appeal.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Disclosures Team – Customer Relations and Information

Cheshire West and Chester Council

Tel: 0300 123 8 123

Email: [5][email address]

Location: Cheshire West and Chester Council, 4 Civic Way, Ellesmere Port
CH65 0BE

Visit: cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

 

 

PD (Ex)

 

 

Cheshire West and Chester Council is committed to ensuring the security
and protection of the personal information that we process and to provide
a compliant and consistent approach to data protection.  To learn more
about how we handle your personal information when you contact the
Council’s Data Protection and Compliance Team,  please see our [6]Advice,
Enquiries and Complaints Privacy Notice on the Council's website or ask
for a copy of the notice to be sent to you.

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References

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1. https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/gui...
2. mailto:[Cheshire West and Chester Council request email]
3. http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk...
4. http://www.ico.org.uk/
5. mailto:[email address]
6. https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.u...