As you will see from the press release from Centro there is no threat to the national pensioners bus pass from the possible proposals from Centro. What the government decides in the future however is anyone guess
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Proposed
public consultation on transport spending options
The public look set to have their say on how best to meet a
proposed reduction in transport spending.
The leaders of the seven West Midlands district councils -
Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton -
have asked Centro to consult on a range of options aimed at saving ten per cent
from the transport authority’s budget.
Centro has already saved nearly a third of its operational
expenditure over the last four years without impacting on frontline services
for passengers.
But with district councils facing financial constraints of their
own, Centro has been tasked with consulting on the options and consequences of
making a further £14 million of savings over the next two years.
The transport authority is due to hold a special meeting on Monday
(November 25) at which Centro members will consider the budget reduction
options and be asked to give the go-ahead for a public consultation.
Centro chairman Cllr John McNicholas said: “These are difficult
options and if implemented would have a significant impact on the travelling
public.
“That’s why it’s so important for people to tell us through the
forthcoming consultation where they think we should make the savings and what
effect those reductions would have on the way they travel.”
Cllr Roger Lawrence, chair of the West Midlands Joint Committee,
which is made up of the seven West Midlands council leaders, added: “Right
across the country local authorities are being forced to make extremely tough
choices because of the spending cuts being imposed by Government.
“The West Midlands is no exception and all areas of expenditure
including transport need to be looked at to see where potential savings can be
made.
“The options are not easy but I’m afraid this is the financial
reality that has been imposed upon local Government.”
The options expected to be put to the public include:
- Children paying two thirds of
the adult fare on buses instead of half
- Removing free local rail and
tram travel for eligible people or introducing a nominal annual charge of
around £30
- Reducing the grant to Ring and
Ride
- Reducing the number of taxpayer
funded bus services
- Removing the locally funded ‘add
on’ which allows eligible people to travel free on buses after 11pm (free
bus travel between 9:30am and 11pm would be unaffected)
Further options to fully achieve the proposed ten per cent
reduction would include completely stopping Centro funding for Ring and Ride or
for child bus fare concessions.
Cllr McNicholas said a ten per cent budget reduction would mean an
inescapable impact on front line services because of the level of Centro
expenditure required by law.
Of the current £146 million a year budget more than £87 million,
or 60 per cent, is used to pay for financing charges and legally required free
travel for older people, the blind and those with mobility needs.
Cllr McNicholas said an overall £14 million reduction would
therefore have to come from the remaining £59 million which was equivalent to
cutting the discretionary budget by nearly a quarter.
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I you have any thoughts on these proposals please email me Keith.Linnecor@birmingham.gov .uk and I will ensure your views are passed on
