Pensioners to lose free travel tokens
Thousands of pensioners are set to lose their free travel tokens as part of plans to cut millions of pounds off a council's budget.
Thousands of pensioners are set to lose their free travel tokens as part of plans to cut millions of pounds off a council's budget.
South Staffordshire Council is facing one of its most difficult budgets ever, according to chief executive Steve Winterflood.
The tokens, which can be used for taxis, are an alternative to the free bus pass and are meant for people who find themselves without a dedicated bus route.
But the service could be scrapped altogether next year under government plans to move responsibility for concessionary travel from the district to the county council.
South Staffordshire Council is the only district in Staffordshire that still offers the tokens. Instead bosses are developing a new travel plan to offer specifically tailored transport to groups who need it, such as school children and the elderly.
A series of cuts will also see free twice yearly bulky waste collections axed in 2012, a training scheme for secretaries discontinued, new jobs tightly managed and the end to a tradition of the council funding free fruit trees for residents and flower bulbs for parishes.
Around 4,000 people aged 60 to 70 will be stopped from claiming £43 a year of travel tokens.
Finance bosses have reviewed every penny being spent in a bid to cut £4m in spending by 2015.
Mr Winterflood said: "This is the most difficult budget I have ever been involved with. We are anticipating a five per cent cut in our grant from central government as a result of the recession."
Senior council officers' pay will also be frozen.
Councillors will see their basic allowance cut from £5,150 to £5,000, reversing the only pay rise they have had in the past decade.
Councillor Brian Edwards, leader of the council, said: "Councillors have to do their bit and we have had no complaints about the idea.
"On the travel tokens only a very small number of people have been using them and we are the only district in the county to even offer them. We have found that many people aged 60 to 70 have the use of a car and therefore do not actually need the tokens, even though they have been entitled to them."
"We are investigating all the alternatives to improve the travel options for people in South Staffordshire."
The budget is due to be approved on February 23.
Other moves also being considered include scrapping free fruit trees for residents and free bulbs for parishes, as well as reviewing and standardising charges to parish councils for the district council to maintain open spaces.
All new jobs must also have a business case before being anyone is recruited
The total savings by 2015 are estimated to be £4,001,020.
