Purpose

The Council, as Travel Concessionary Authority
(TCA), has a statutory obligation to deliver the national ENCTS.
This includes having in place and publishing by 3 March each year
the scheme arrangements that set out the requirements of the
Lincolnshire scheme and setting out the appropriate operator
reimbursement arrangements to govern the scheme operating from
April to March each year. Under Section 3 of the Concessionary
Travel Act 2007, we are required to reimburse bus operators for all
eligible journeys that begin in Lincolnshire. If ENCTS journeys
increase during the year than forecast, then this increases the
reimbursement spend to operators.

Since 2024/25, revised Guidance reverted back to the principles of
an operator being ‘no better off, no worse off’ in the
absence of a scheme remains. The DfT amended the reimbursement
calculator to make it slightly more generous. The County Council
follows the Guidance is the calculations for reimbursing bus
operators and is based on actual data.

Overall estimated reimbursement for 2025/26 is estimated at
£6,357,250 based on current ENCTS usage. However, if journeys
increase, then reimbursement will increase proportionately. A 5%
increase in journeys will equate to scheme reimbursement of
approximately £6,675,000. The cost of administering the
scheme which includes the issuing of passes is an additional
£250k

Decision

That the following be approved:

1) the publication, by 1 March 2025, of the Lincolnshire ENCTS
Travel Scheme for 2025/26;
2) that the operator reimbursement arrangement for governing the
Lincolnshire ENCTS from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 follows
revised DfT Guidance.
3) that all bus operators participating in the scheme be informed
of the Scheme reimbursement for 2025/26.