Issue - meetings

To consider the following Motion in the names of Councillors J C Lawson and A C Pinnock;

“This Council notes:

1)    The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) is a government-backed initiative that offers free local bus travel in England for people over the State Pension age and people with eligible disabilities. However, the scheme is typically only available to individuals with disabilities outside of peak hours, from 9.30am to 11pm on weekdays, and all day on weekends and bank holidays;

2)    Local areas can offer discretionary concessions beyond the rules set by the ENCTS, including extending free bus travel on weekdays before 9.30am. Locally, the ENCTS scheme is administered by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, but Kirklees and West Yorkshire currently does not offer free travel before 9.30am for most disabled bus pass holders;

3)    The Kirklees Transport Strategy (2025) commits to improving accessibility and promoting inclusive, sustainable transport options for all residents;

4)    Disabled bus pass holders make up about 10% of all concessionary users in England;

5)    The Bus Services (No. 2) Bill is a major piece of legislation which is currently progressing through Parliament, aiming to improve the performance, accessibility and quality of bus services across England. Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Harrogate and Knaresborough, Tom Gordon, submitted an amendment to the Bill and called on the Government to give disabled people the freedom to travel at any time. The amendment received support from over 75 MPs, disability charities and campaign groups. However, the proposal to remove the 11pm – 09.30am exception to free travel for Disabled people was voted down.

This Council believes that:

1)    These restrictions disproportionately affect disabled people who need to travel early for work, education, healthcare or caring responsibilities. Disabled people should have the freedom to travel at any time of day, just as non-disabled people do;

2)    Time restrictions on concessionary travel create a postcode lottery and undermine efforts to promote equality, independence, and inclusion;

3)    Removing these restrictions would support disabled residents in accessing employment, education, healthcare, and social opportunities.

This Council, therefore, resolves:

1)    Request that the Leader of the Council write to the Secretary of State for Transport to express disappointment at the Government’s decision to turn their backs on disabled people as part of the Commons vote in September this year. This undermines their commitment to accessibility and equality. The Government needs to rethink their decision and remove the discriminatory restrictions to help create a system that allows everyone to make the journeys they want to. Removing the time restrictions could also open up work and training opportunities for disabled people, allowing them to travel with freedom, ease and confidence.
 

2)    Ask the Leader of the Council to write to the Elected Mayor of West Yorkshire, to ask the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to extend the local ENCTS scheme to allow 24/7 free bus travel for all eligible disabled passholders across the region.”

Item not considered (Meeting terminated in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16:2).