Under Labour the introduction of free bus transport for the elderly and disabled has maximise citizen mobility to use public transport.
Due to the scrutiny of Councillors to stop plans by the Conservative/Independent Lib Dem cuts within its budget plan to reduce Bus Service Council Subsidy and use of free travel prior to 9am, people with Concessionary Bus Passes have retained the rights to use this service.
Whilst Councillors have protected the existing scheme for pensioners and disabled people, Councillor Adrian Knapper would welcome the extension of this scheme for all young people in full-time education or training up to the age of 18, as well as for all jobseekers.
The current Conservative/Independent Lib Dem Administration is now planning to review all Council Services via a Root & Branch review that will result in Stoke-on-Trent City Council making policy changes on the way in which services are delivered.
If the City is serious about ensuring that we meet the challenge of climate change, the City Council must work to ensure that the Potteries has a reliable Transport Network that is accessible to all and that the cost is reduced to a reasonable level to encourage more people to use the service.
Free Travel extended to young people will allow the next generation the rights to access education and leisure facilities that will allow them to explore their full potential across the North Staffordshire Region.
Councillor Knapper would welcome serious expession of debate on how people think Public Transport needs to be improved and made more accessible.
I guess Mr Knapper doesn’t realise that youth unemployment Is a real problem. The difficulty with getting the young people motivated is they have no financial burdon. People up to their mid 30′s often live with their parents, free of charge, whilst enjoying state handouts – why would anyone in their right mind give that up for 9-5 5 days a week? Maybe a free bus pass?
We cannot return the work ethic to young people by making their lives easier on benefits. We are simply proving to them that they can go on unemployed whilst the ever shinking body of employed people pay their taxes.
are you after free bus passes for job seekers because you are worried that you might be out of a job come may6th
How to make them prove that the journey was job-related would probably be an issue here.
While I am all in favour of genuine job-seekers ( and they are still out there) being able to access free transport at need I seriously dislike the idea that the scheme could be hijacked by people travelling to get their cheapo lager or drugs.
Adrian is clearly unaware that jobseekers CAN currently claim for help with travelling to an interview by bus or car its caled “Travel-to-interview scheme” and if its some distance even help to cover cost of an overnight stay, its great for those job vacancies in Rhyl
Ian, I think you could have kept that comment much shorter.
“Adrian is clearly unaware” is accurate and would have said it all.
Nice one Ian, some one able to do their home work.
Aren’t councillors able to call upon the same facts you do?
I agree with bus passes for the eldery and for the disabeled and any system to help motervated jobseakers clame money back going job interviews or training. It sould be left to the bus companys to offer good rates for kids. As for dolling them out to the bone stinking idele for free transport to the local pubs, thats where I draw the line, no thankyou very much, April 1st another mouth away yet.