Decision details

The ENCTS provides statutory free off-peak bus travel for eligible older and disabled people.

The County Council is reviewing all areas of discretionary expenditure including where it funds senior rail cards as an alternative to a free bus pass for eligible older residents of West Sussex.

This is not a statutory duty and so may be discontinued.

Users and other stakeholders have been consulted to help understand the impact of any changes to the current discretionary railcard offer. If this option is withdrawn, older residents will retain their entitlement to a free bus pass and may also choose to purchase a railcard for £30/year (or £70 for 3 years).

The Cabinet Member has considered the outcome of the consultation and endorsed the withdrawal of the current offer of a free senior rail card as an alternative to a free bus pass to eligible older West Sussex residents from October 2020.

The decision was called-in. On 2 July 2020, the Environment and Communities Scrutiny Committee rejected the call-in but supported further work on mitigations to be carried out by officers. Also, that further work is carried out to advertise the availability of the concessionary railcard so that people know that they can still apply for it before October 2020.

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