Proposals to extend concessionary bus deals and supported bus services will be discussed at an upcoming council meeting Brighton and Hove City Council agreed a three-year fixed deal with Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company in June 2011.

The deal comes to an end at the end of March 2014 and the council began negotiations for a further fixed-deal last autumn.

A two-year fixed deal with Stagecoach South was agreed in November 2012.

Members of the Policy and Resources committee will vote on March 20 on whether to delegate the finalisation of the deals to the executive director for finance and resources.

The council report states that the financial information cannot be made public because it is commercially sensitive The council has a legal duty to reimburse bus operators for their loss of revenue and increased costs of carrying concessionaires, so operators are no better or worse off as a result of the free travel scheme.

Most authorities use the Department of Transport’s reimbursement model,but Brighton and Hove Council does not.

A spokesman for the council said: “Rather than use the DfT model, the council has entered into fixed deals with both the major bus operators in the city. These arrangements have benefits for both parties in that they provide greater certainty over future payments and ensure that the administrative costs of any appeals are avoided.

“Over the three-year period the council is estimated to have saved a significant sum compared to potential payments under the DfT model. This saving takes account of the reduction in concessionary journey numbers when a number of supported bus routes were transferred to other operators in 2012.”