Knock back likely for companion bus passes in West Berkshire

Moves to bring back ‘companion’ bus passes in West Berkshire look set to be knocked back.

They fell victim to a round of budget cuts about 10 years ago.

The move would cost the council £40,000.

The cost-conscious council says this would be in addition to the separate budget pressure for £145,000 that has been submitted for concessionary travel for 2025/26.

It is recommended that the motion to council is not progressed at the present time but that the council awaits the outcome of the central government review into the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme, and identify suitable funding, before reconsidering the introduction of companion passes.

In July 2024, the following council motion was submitted in the name of councillor David Marsh (Green, Newbury Wash Common) on companion bus passes: “Council notes that: Companion bus passes enable people with disabilities that prevent them travelling alone, such as blindness, to take a companion, free of charge, on their journey.

“This could literally transform the lives of some of our residents. West Berkshire Council offered a companion bus pass scheme until the ‘austerity’ cuts of 2016.

“However, neighbouring councils continue to offer companion bus passes, in some cases allowing reciprocal travel between different authorities.

“Companion bus passes are funded, in full or in part, by central government so reintroducing them would not put a large financial burden on council tax payers.

“By failing to enable all its residents to enjoy the benefits of bus travel, West Berkshire is in effect discriminating against some of them.”

The council’s current annual revenue budget for concessionary travel is £480,460.

Operators are reimbursed through this for concessionary journeys on commercial services.

The cost of concessionary travel for supported services is embedded within local bus contracts.

The council has been notified of government Bus Services Improvement Plan grant funding but further details are expected in the new year.

There are also concerns about reciprocal arrangements with the acceptance of another local authority’s companion pass within West Berkshire (enabling free travel for the companion) and the other local authority will then permit free travel within their area for the companions of any West Berkshire companion pass holder.

This will need to be negotiated individually with each neighbouring local authority.

In West Berkshire there are 18,626 discretionary passes, of which 17,600 are for older people and 1,026 for disabled people.

The council pays £424,185.06 to reimburse them.

With no current offer of companion passes in West Berkshire, companions who are required to travel to enable concessionary pass holders to travel would need to purchase a bus ticket.

All operators provide a range of ticket options for multi-journey or multi-day discounted travel for bus users.

There are two broad categories of people eligible for a statutory concession – older people and eligible disabled people.

Both men and women are eligible for concessionary travel in England when they reach state pension age.

Councillor Marsh’s view is that West Berkshire should fall in line with neighbouring authorities – some of which allow companion passes.

Bracknell Forest doesn’t offer them, but Hampshire does.

This is available if unable to travel unaccompanied based on disability (additional evidence is required to confirm inability to travel alone).

It enables free all-day travel on bus services for pass holder and companion on journeys starting in Hampshire (not Portsmouth and Southampton).

The companion holder can also travel for free on off-peak journeys between Wiltshire and Hampshire. Oxfordshire too.

A companion pass is available for a disabled person who cannot travel alone.

Children between the age of five and 15 who qualify for a disabled pass will be issued with a companion pass automatically.

And Reading where a companion pass is available for a disabled person who cannot travel alone.

Slough doesn’t. But a companion pass is available for a disabled person who cannot travel alone limited to journeys starting in Wokingham.