Decision details

That the responses received during the engagement process be noted.

That the proposed changes to transport charges as part of the Fairer Charging Policy, and therefore to be means tested as part of an assessed personal budget, be agreed.

That the proposed changes to transport charges be implemented from 1^st April 2016.

The transport service is one of the only services the Local Authority has discretion around whether it is included in the Fairer Charging Policy and part of an overall assessed personal budget, or if it is outside of the policy and therefore charged for on a flat rate basis. 

The initial proposal had suggested charging outside of the Fairer Charging Policy, with any service user in receipt of Income Support or Jobseekers’ Allowance, an estimated 60% of current service users being exempt from the charge, with remaining clients charged at the full proposed rate of £15 per return journey.  However as part of an engagement process undertaken with existing service users of the transport service during January and February 2015, 82% of respondents had said that the charge was unfair and might prevent them from using transport.  It is therefore proposed to charge £15 per return journey within the Fairer Charging Policy which will enable the charge to be part of an assessed personal budget which will depend on personal financial circumstances of each service user, calculated through a financial assessment.  An Equality Impact Assessment has also been undertaken which determined that the proposals did not impact on any of the protected groups disproportionally, and that any service user who has a financial assessment undertaken has the right to appeal the charge. 

The proposal to introduce a £15 charge per return journey within the Fairer Charging Policy impacts on the Local Authority’s Building a Better Bromley aim of promoting independence by ensuring that resources will be available to meet the increasing demand from an elderly population and adults with disabilities and care needs.