The East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) is preparing to take on responsibility for administering concessionary travel across Nottinghamshire, Nottingham, Derbyshire and Derby City from April 2026, and a new report recommends approving a transition-year scheme that keeps all existing entitlements exactly as they are for residents.
The proposal will be considered by the EMCCA Board at its meeting on 24 November.
The move marks one of the first major operational steps for the new regional authority, which becomes the statutory Travel Concession Authority from early 2026 once public transport functions fully transfer from the four constituent councils. The report stresses that the priority for the first 12 months is stability, continuity and legal compliance, meaning there will be no changes to how older and disabled passengers access free off-peak bus travel or the extra local discounts offered in different parts of the region.
Under national legislation, all Travel Concession Authorities must provide free off-peak bus travel for qualifying older and disabled residents through the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS). This statutory scheme guarantees free travel on local buses anywhere in England between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays and all day at weekends and bank holidays. EMCCA is legally required to publish its proposed arrangements at least four months before they come into force, which means operators must be notified in December and the final scheme must be published by 3 March 2026.
Because the transfer of staff, budgets and powers will not take place until the end of January 2026, the report notes that EMCCA will have neither the time nor the technical capacity to redesign or update the scheme for immediate introduction. Instead, the authority will replicate every aspect of each council’s existing arrangements so that no resident is “better or worse off” during the 2026/27 financial year. More extensive reviews and reforms are planned for 2027/28.
The decision will mean that discretionary concessions – the additional benefits offered by individual councils on top of the statutory minimum – will remain different across Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Derby City for at least another year. Nottingham’s existing tram concessions and companion passes for some disabled residents will continue unchanged. Nottinghamshire’s arrangements, including tram access for city passholders, companion passes for eligible disabled people and half-fare travel for qualifying passengers on Section 19 community minibus services, will also remain as they are. Derbyshire’s long-established policy allowing free travel for authorised companions on journeys starting in the county will continue, while Derby City, which has no extra discretionary discounts, will also see no change.
Several other concessions funded through the region’s Bus Service Improvement Plan, such as Derbyshire’s b_line young persons’ discount and enhanced support for care leavers and young carers in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, are expected to continue, although final confirmation will come through EMCCA’s budget-setting process in January.
The report emphasises the need for EMCCA to adopt the Department for Transport’s reimbursement model, which sets out how transport operators must be compensated for carrying concessionary passengers. The principle is that operators should be “no better and no worse off”, ensuring the scheme does not amount to a subsidy under the Subsidy Control Act 2022. Revised national guidance was issued in 2023 following concerns from operators about outdated methods and post-pandemic changes in travel patterns. The 2026/27 scheme is expected to continue using the updated calculator.
The financial implications for EMCCA will be tied into the wider Transport Levy, which will transfer funding for ENCTS from the constituent councils. Work is currently under way to validate the total scheme cost for 2026/27, with a full budget report due to go before the Board in January. Officials say no additional cost pressures are expected at this stage beyond what councils already spend, and any variations identified through engagement with bus and tram operators will be handled as part of routine budget monitoring.
Legally, the authority must also allow operators to challenge reimbursement arrangements through a formal process involving the Secretary of State, should any disagreements arise. The report notes that full consultation requirements will be met during the scheme-making period.
Looking ahead, EMCCA plans to carry out a comprehensive review of all discretionary concessions from early 2026 once its transport team is fully in place. This will involve detailed technical modelling, public and operator consultation, and an assessment of whether different discounts could be harmonised across the region. Any significant future changes would also require an Equality Act impact assessment. A new regional-wide scheme is expected to be brought forward for April 2027.
The Board is being asked to approve the draft scheme for engagement with operators in December, note that the final costings will be confirmed as part of the January budget, and delegate authority to senior officers to publish the finalised notice by 3 March unless substantial changes emerge from feedback. If major amendments are needed, a further report will come back to the Board in early 2026.
The proposals represent the first stage of EMCCA’s wider ambition to establish a coherent, region-wide public transport system as part of its devolution agreement. Transport was one of the core functions handed to the new authority when it took on mayoral powers earlier this year, and concessionary travel arrangements are seen as one of the most complex and sensitive areas to manage during the transition. The report repeatedly stresses that maintaining resident confidence, preventing disruption and ensuring all legal deadlines are met are the overriding priorities for the coming year.
