8.         SUPPLY OF INFORMATION

 

8.1       Each operator will be required to provide information on all journeys undertaken by all concessionaires monthly for each preceding month.  The information will be required even when under the conditions of the one year arrangement for free concessionary travel described in 6.4 obtains.  Operators will have to demonstrate to the County Council that they have in place sufficient controls to ensure the accurate recording of concessionaire journeys. 

 

8.2       The value of recorded travel from which payment will be calculated is to be obtained as follows:

 

(i)         For operators with electronic ticket machines, a comprehensive record of all concessionary travel recorded by them.  Operators will supply at the end of each four week period, starting from week beginning 27 March 2006, data on the total revenue paid by bus concessionaires for each week for each route and of the total number of passengers travelling at half fare and free.  The County Council reserves the right to conduct surveys of bus patronage to test the level of demand for the scheme.    

 

(ii)        For other large operators, the Council will conduct on-bus surveys to record the revenue paid by concessionaires and the number of passengers receiving free and half fare travel.  All relevant routes will be surveyed over a sample of journeys, with the distribution of surveys for a particular operator spread over the year and over days of the week so as to represent varied operating circumstances as fairly as possible. When service changes occur between planned survey intervals, an adjustment to payments for the intervening period will be based on either the proportionate change in a route's operating mileage, information previously available for the route, or an interim survey as appropriate.  Similarly, adjustments for fare increases, which occur between surveys, will also be made, provided the appropriate notification of the fare change has been given.

 

(iii)       For "small" operators, by self completing returns which will record the revenue paid by concessionaires over a 2 week period during each of 3 monthly period (situated approximately at the middle of these periods which are Jan-March, April-June, July-Sept, Oct-Dec).  Such operators will be contacted about details of the required surveys at the appropriate time during the 3 monthly period.  With their returns they will also be required to confirm details of any service changes which have occurred since the previous survey.  (From time to time, the Council will conduct on-bus audit surveys to establish that operators' returns are a true and fair representation of concessionary passes carried).

 

8.3       If an operator supplies data, which it can prove to the authority's satisfaction provides a more accurate basis for the calculation of recorded concessionary travel, then that data will be used.

 

8.4       The information provided by an operator will be treated in strictest confidence.  However, an operator may request details of any survey information obtained on its services, or the details of the calculation of its payment, at any reasonable interval.

 

8.5       In exceptional circumstances (where for example some ETM data had been irretrievably lost) an agreed actual payment could be determined jointly by the authorities and the operator concerned, provided this was consistent with the principles of the standard method and previous payment precedents.