Suffolk Coastal DC has written to the Government demanding an urgent review into the funding shortfall caused by the introduction of free bus passes. Cabinet member, Cllr Stephen Burroughes, asked transport secretary, Douglas Alexander, to reconsider the implications of the scheme. ‘The introduction of free concessionary travel for all those aged 60 and over was announced with a great fanfare from the Government,' said Cllr Borroughes. ‘However, its promise that an extra £350m of funding was on offer to councils to cover the cost of the new scheme has certainly not proved true for us.' The council has predicted the extra cost will reach £180,000, the equivalent of £3 on council tax bills. ‘This is a government initiative and it is unfair that the extra costs should be met by our council taxpapers,' Cllr Burroughes added. A Department for Transport spokesman said: ‘At the start of this scheme, the general consensus was that £350m was felt to be adequate to cover the statutory minimum of services. ‘Any service funded above that is the responsibility of the council. We will consider any correspondence received.'
