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| Council cuts blamed on bus scheme | Council cuts blamed on bus scheme |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| More than 30 local authorities in England say they are having to make cuts to cover the cost of providing free bus passes to the over-60s. | More than 30 local authorities in England say they are having to make cuts to cover the cost of providing free bus passes to the over-60s. |
| They say a scheme allowing pensioners to travel anywhere in the country was to blame for budget shortfalls. | They say a scheme allowing pensioners to travel anywhere in the country was to blame for budget shortfalls. |
| A government grant of £212m was made but councils have told BBC Radio 5 Live this was not enough. | A government grant of £212m was made but councils have told BBC Radio 5 Live this was not enough. |
| The Department for Transport said the funding allocation policy was agreed with town hall officials. | The Department for Transport said the funding allocation policy was agreed with town hall officials. |
| Free off-peak bus travel for over-60s and disabled travellers provided by local authorities in England was extended in April to cover travel anywhere in England using a single pass. | Free off-peak bus travel for over-60s and disabled travellers provided by local authorities in England was extended in April to cover travel anywhere in England using a single pass. |
| Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland already offered free travel schemes, but until April bus passes in England were only valid for people who lived in the local area. | Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland already offered free travel schemes, but until April bus passes in England were only valid for people who lived in the local area. |
| A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "We are now spending around £1bn on concessionary travel each year, including an extra £212m to cover the extension introduced in April. | |
| "This new funding is allocated based on a formula that local authorities requested and takes into account people who travel to popular tourist towns and coastal areas." | |
| Costs reimbursed | |
| Scarborough is another affected council | Scarborough is another affected council |
| The scheme was highlighted by Prime Minister Gordon Brown in his keynote speech at the Labour conference in Manchester this week. | The scheme was highlighted by Prime Minister Gordon Brown in his keynote speech at the Labour conference in Manchester this week. |
| The money provided by central government was spread across hundreds of councils to help them reimburse the bus companies for each pensioner who travels with them. | The money provided by central government was spread across hundreds of councils to help them reimburse the bus companies for each pensioner who travels with them. |
| There are 322 local authorities in England. | There are 322 local authorities in England. |
| About 100 were contacted by the BBC on the impact of the bus service scheme. | About 100 were contacted by the BBC on the impact of the bus service scheme. |
| Of those that responded, 10 stated they had no problems while seven said they were still calculating the cost of the service. | Of those that responded, 10 stated they had no problems while seven said they were still calculating the cost of the service. |
| Some 33 councils said they faced budget shortfalls which they directly attribute to the scheme. | Some 33 councils said they faced budget shortfalls which they directly attribute to the scheme. |
| Tunbridge Wells Council says it is planning to raise council tax and increase car parking charges to pay for the extra costs. | Tunbridge Wells Council says it is planning to raise council tax and increase car parking charges to pay for the extra costs. |
| Staff jobs at two theatres and the local tourist information centre in the town are also under threat. | Staff jobs at two theatres and the local tourist information centre in the town are also under threat. |
| Other councils have said they have no option but to close some public toilets and cut back on street cleaning and road maintenance. | Other councils have said they have no option but to close some public toilets and cut back on street cleaning and road maintenance. |
| Fylde Borough Council said it has closed a swimming pool to cover its costs while the Isle of Wight has a shortfall of £3.7m. | Fylde Borough Council said it has closed a swimming pool to cover its costs while the Isle of Wight has a shortfall of £3.7m. |
| Last month, Scarborough Council also complained that government grants were not covering their costs. | Last month, Scarborough Council also complained that government grants were not covering their costs. |