School bus pass set to rise by 20%

The annual cost of a bus travel pass used by thousands of youngsters to get to school is to rise by £60 to £350 under draft county council budget plans.

The 20% increase, if agreed, has been defended by council leader Paul Carter, who says the scheme still represents good value.

“Things have been very tough on local government and many other councils are going down to just providing core services,” he said. “I am pleased and proud that in Kent we have been able to maintain good services.

“We do need to increase revenue wherever we can and we are hoping to freeze the cost of the pass for a number of years. And we plan for parents to be able to pay monthly, which is something they have asked for.”

Despite the hike, he says KCC will still be heavily subsidising the scheme.

But Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Rob Bird is concerned.

“It is a big increase and we are talking to the administration to see how we can alleviate the costs for hard-pressed parents,” he said.

The 20% increase would save the council £800,000.

The pass provides 11 to 16-yearolds unlimited access to the Kent public bus network from Monday to Friday between 6am and 7pm.

The draft budget also sets out proposals for a 5% hike in council tax. Cllr Carter said KCC was not alone in deciding to increase the tax, adding: “Most other authorities up and down the country are implementing the same increase. Irrespective of that, we have still had to deliver another £50m savings and we have found those savings without materially affecting frontline services.”