KCC set to increase cost of young persons' travel pass despite petition opposing plans

A hike in the price of a travel pass for young people to £270 looks certain to go ahead.

County councillors have decided to take no action on a petition signed by more than 3,000 people asking for a re-think.

KCC is increasing the cost of a pass by 8% this year saying that it is having to pass on the additional costs of running the scheme by bus operators.

Despite the petition organiser being unable to attend the cross-party meeting, a debate went ahead.

Cllr Matthew Balfour, KCC cabinet member for transport, defended the rise saying that it remained good value.

“It is still a fantastically generous scheme. Outside London, it is the most generous scheme in the country. It is generous. Where I find it difficult is where people say ‘it is my right.’ It is not, it is discretionary.”

He added: “I totally appreciate how difficult this is for families.”

Asked if KCC had investigated whether it could secure funding from elsewhere to help avoid an increase, he said: “Other than going out on the streets of Maidstone and Sittingbourne with a begging bowl, I can't think of another way.”

Opposition councillors queried the need for an increase and accused KCC of hitting parents who had made decisions about where their children would go to school based on the affordability of the pass.

Cllr Colin Caller (Lab) said: “I have a lot of sympathy for parents. There is no doubt that many took decisions about schools two or three years ago based on information they had at the time.”

The result was that many families who did not qualify for discounts were hit hardest by consecutive increases over recent years, he added.

UKIP councillor Mike Baldock asked why KCC had not investigated sources of external funding to help subsidise the cost.

“I understand that it represents good value for money but what have we done to seek external funding? There must be plenty of opportunities,” he said.

In a statement to the committee from petitioner organiser Nicola Hibbard, from Snodland, Maidstone, said while parents are conscious of the difficulties KCC is under “every child deserves the right to their most suitable education without discrimination.”

Under the hike, KCC says the daily cost will rise from £1.31 a day to £1.42 a day.

Even with the cost at £270, KCC still has to subsidise the cost by between £200 and £230 per pass on average.