Proposed changes to concessionary travel

Nottingham City Council is set to cut £33.6m from its budget next year to meet the reductions imposed by Government.

In its settlement for Nottingham City Council for 2011/12, the Government said last month that there would be a cut of 8.44% next year. However, because of changes to the way the settlement was presented, and taking into account in-year cuts imposed by the Government in its Emergency Budget in June, the real cut in the council’s funding from Government is £60m.

This means Nottingham is among the hardest hit by the Government cuts.

In its budget-setting process, the council has had to make difficult decisions about changing, reducing or stopping some services altogether.

One of the proposals for reducing these costs is to make changes to the discretionary element of the concessionary travel scheme. Our current proposals for these changes are set out below: 

Senior Citycard weekday concession

This will fall in line with the national statutory scheme for local buses but will still include the tram as a locally provided add-on. Free travel will be available on buses and Nottingham’s trams from 0930 to 2300 hours on weekdays and all day at weekends and bank holidays

Mobility Citycard changes at pensionable age.

Mobility Citycard benefits will move in line with those of Senior Citycard holders when residents reach pensionable age. Existing Mobility Citycard holders will automatically be sent a Senior Citycard on reaching pensionable age.

Mobility Citycard and companion entitlement

Entitlement for free companion travel in Nottingham will be subject to independent assessment and restricted to those Mobility or Senior Citycard holders who are blind, wheelchair bound or have severe learning difficulties.

Mobility Citycard application process

New applications will be assessed and existing ones reassessed on the basis of national guidelines relating to the new national scheme, using an independent assessment process and evidence base similar to the national Blue Badge scheme.

Have your say

We are currently consulting on these proposed changes. If you would like to tell us what you think about these proposals you can visit our "have your say" page by clicking here.