Background Following an announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in November 2009, Worcestershire County Council will take over responsibility for bus passes and free travel on local buses from District Councils on 1st April 2011. The expectation is that there will be a unified scheme providing the same benefits in all areas of the County from that date. Previously announced changes to eligibility based on age came into effect from 1st April 2010 as the minimum age to qualify for a bus pass on the grounds of age gradually increases from 60 to 65 in line with changes in Female pension entitlement and entitlement for the Winter Fuel Allowance. Central government will fund the County Council for free travel on local buses between the hours of 09:30 and 23:00 on weekdays and all day on weekends and Bank Holidays.

The funding for free travel currently paid for by District Councils will not transfer to the County Council and we need to understand what would happen if we had to stop providing this part of the Worcestershire Concessionary Travel Scheme. This affects: Free travel before 09:30 on weekdays in Bromsgrove, Malvern Hills, Redditch and Wychavon, this will cost up to £500,000 a year to provide across the County. Free travel is also available to companions of some disabled pass holders across Worcestershire, this will cost £28,000 over a year to provide across the County. Provision of bus tokens to defined users by Wychavon District Council and Wyre Forest District Council.

The Consultation This consultation is to provide information to help us decide whether to provide the additional free travel that is currently funded by District Councils A more detailed explanation is available upon request from : Wayne Arthur Transport Systems Manager Transportation Services Unit Pavilion H1 County Hall Worcester WR5 2NP Tel: 01905 822069 Fax: 01905 728777 warthur@worcestershire.gov.uk

	Are you completing this survey as an individual or on behalf of a group?
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	On behalf of a group

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About You - Please complete these questions which will help us to understand the views and needs of different groups in our communities

	What is your home postcode?

	Are you male or female?
	Male
	Female

	What was your age on your last birthday? PLEASE WRITE IN THE BOX BELOW (IN YEARS)

	Do you personally have a long standing illness, disability or infirmity that limits your daily activities? Please tick ONE only
	Yes
	No

	How would you describe your ethnicity? Please tick ONE only
	a) White - British		i) Black or Black British: Caribbean
	b) White - Irish		j) Black or Black British: Other
	c) White - Other		k) Asian or Asian British: Indian
	d) Mixed - White and Black Caribbean		l) Asian or Asian British: Pakistani
	e) Mixed - White and Black African		m) Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi
	f) Mixed - White and Asian		n) Asian or Asian British: Other
	g) Mixed - Other		o) Chinese
	h) Black or Black British: African		p) Other

	Which of the following best describes your current employment status? Please tick ONE only
	a) I work full time (over 30 hrs a week)		h) Between jobs
	b) I work part time (less than 30 hrs a week)		i) Looking after the home or family or caring for someone else
	c) Self employed		j) Unemployed less than 6 months
	d) Doing temporary work		k) Unemployed more than 6 months
	e) I am a full time student		l) Retired
	f) Training		m) Permanently sick/disabled
	g) Voluntary work		n) Other

About Your Group - Please complete these questions which will help us to understand the views and needs of different groups in our communities

	Name of Organisation

	What geographical region do your services cover?
	National/ International
	Regional (e.g. West Midlands)
	Herefordshire & Worcestershire
	Worcestershire
	Worcester City
	Bromsgrove
	Redditch
	Malvern Hills
	Wyre Forest
	Wychavon
	Other

	If other, please specify

	What is the nature of the services you deliver? Please tick ALL that apply
	Community Transport
	Older People’s Services
	Children and Young People’s Services
	Carers' Support
	Equality and Diversity
	Sports and Leisure
	Arts and Culture
	Environmental
	Mental Health
	Physical Health
	Disabilities
	Independent Advice
	Other

	If other, please specify

	How does free concessionary travel affect you and/or the people that you represent?

Discretionary Enhancements to the Concessionary Travel Scheme

	Why do you, or the people you represent, use the bus pass before 9:30 on weekdays? Please tick ALL that apply
	Don't use before 9:30 on weekdays
	Attending Work
	Food Shopping
	Attending Schools/Further Education
	Attending Doctor's Surgery
	Attending Hospital
	Attending Day Centres / Community Activities
	Visiting Family and Friends
	Other Leisure Activities
	Other - please specify below

	Please Specify

	What action would you, or the people you represent, take if free travel on local buses before 9:30 on weekdays was not available in Worcestershire? Please tick ALL that apply
	Delay the journey
	Travel by private car
	Travel by taxi or community transport
	Travel by bus but buy a ticket
	Not make the journey
	Other - please specify below

	Please specify

	Are you, or the people you represent, eligible to have a companion travel for free when using buses in Worcestershire? Please tick ONE only
	Yes
	No
	Don't Know

	Why do you, or the people you represent, use the bus pass accompanied by a companion? Please tick ALL that apply
	Don't use companion pass
	Attending Work
	Food Shopping
	Attending Schools/Further Education
	Attending Doctor's Surgery
	Attending Hospital
	Attending Day Centres / Community Activities
	Visiting Family and Friends
	Other Leisure Activities
	Other - please specify below

	Please Specify

	What action would you, or the people you represent, take if free travel for companions of eligible disabled pass holders was not available in Worcestershire? Please tick ALL that apply
	Delay the journey
	Travel by private car
	Travel by taxi or community transport
	Travel by bus with companion (paying for companion's ticket)
	Travel by bus without companion
	Not make the journey
	Other - please specify below

	Please specify

	Wychavon District Council and Wyre Forest District Council currently offer travel token schemes to certain groups as an alternative to the bus pass. An option for Worcestershire County Council is to offer travel tokens to the value of £40 per annum as an alternative to the bus pass for certain groups: those aged over 80, those disabled people eligible for the companion pass. These transport tokens can be used on buses and for taxis or Community Transport. If this scheme were available would you, or people you represent, be eligible? Please tick ONE only
	Yes
	No
	Don't Know

	Would you, or the people you represent, choose transport tokens instead of the bus pass? Please tick ONE only
	Yes
	No
	Don't Know

	How would you, or the people you represent, use transport tokens? Please tick ALL that apply
	Use tokens instead of travelling by bus
	Use tokens instead of travelling by private car
	Use tokens to pay for journeys currently made by taxi
	Use tokens to pay for journeys currently made by Community Transport
	Use tokens for a journey that would not be made without tokens
	Other - please specify

	Please specify in the box below:

	Do you have any comments on how Worcestershire County Council could fund the cost of discretionary enhancements? Please write in below

	Is there anything else related to free travel that you would like to mention? Please write in below

Thank you for completing this survey, please click submit.