6.          REIMBURSEMENT ARRANGEMENTS

 

6.1       The objective of the reimbursement arrangements shall be to ensure that operators are no better or worse off financially as a result of participation in the scheme.

 

6.4        Reimbursement for free travel is subject to uncertainties in the level of anticipated demand and for this reason an interim reimbursement arrangement will operate for one year from 1 April 2006.  This will provide the operators with an amount based on the observed level of demand during the previous two years of operation of the Cheshire concessionary fares scheme before 1 April 2006 and will be at an amount agreed with operators before 4 February 2006.  An amended scheme to come into operation on 1 April 2007 will be published by 1 December 2006.    

 

6.5       Where an operator can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the County Council that it has necessarily incurred additional costs as a result of providing additional vehicles or capacity in order to meet extra demand created by the availability on the concession under the scheme the Councils will reimburse those costs to the operator.

 

6.6        Payments for concessions to blind people will be on the basis of £37.38 per pass issued (with pro rata part year reductions) for 2006-07.  Distribution of blind pass funds to operators will be in direct proportion the reimbursements for the elderly and disabled persons scheme.  The price per pass will be adjusted each year by inflation.