Freedom of information response

Please can you provide the following information for the financial year 2022-2023.

• How many concessionary bus passes were issued? New applications -1385 passes; renewals and replacements – 3411

• How many disabled bus passes were issued? New applications – 34; Renewals and replacements – 386

• How much was spent on all concessionary bus pass travel? £1,028411.34 – this is inclusive of expenditure based on age and disability and discretionary provision and cannot be separated.

• How much was spent on disabled bus pass travel? £1,028411.34 – this is inclusive of expenditure based on age and disability and cannot be separated.

• How many bus trips were made by concessionary bus pass holders? Not possible to achieve within 18 hrs - We have analysed the passes including those that have passed away during this year or have moved away. We took over 5 minutes to do one pass and to do them all would take well over 18 hours to complete

• How many bus trips were made by disabled bus pass holders? Not possible to achieve within 18 hrs  - As above

• How many bus trips were made by disabled bus pass holders before 9:30am? Not possible to achieve within 18 hrs  - As above

• How many bus trips were made by disabled bus pass holders after 11pm? Not possible to achieve within 18 hrs  - As above

• Do you offer a young person’s bus pass? And if you do, what are the benefits of the young person’s bus pass? No we do not offer a young persons pass

• Does the disabled bus pass include free travel for a travelling companion? Thurrock council issues companion pass’ for those with disabilities and with medical evidence to support the need for a companion pass.

• How much additional cost would there be if you lifted the time restrictions and provided free bus travel at all times for all disabled bus pass holders per financial year? A discretionary provision is offered from 9.00am but the council has not undertaken further work on costs for access at all times but concessionary pass holders. Additionally this would take over 18 hours to complete.

• Please can you explain how you calculated this figure. Has not been calculated by the authority.

In issuing our response the council have applied S12 of the Freedom of Information Act. 

This means that the council does not have to comply with your request if the cost of doing so exceeds the ‘appropriate limit’, which for local authorities is 18 hours.  This applies to the time taken spent locating and collating the requested information.  

If you wish to narrow the scope of your request and resubmit this to the council then of course we may be able to provide this information.