Agenda item

This report provides an update on the recommended officer actions made in relation to the Informal working group report submitted to Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 9 October 2023.

An update is also provided covering current blue badge processing performance which highlights a number of ongoing challenges currently facing the service, along with an action plan for improvement.

The Portfolio Holder for Customer, Culture and Communications and the Director of Customer and Property Business presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book. The Board was advised that the report provided an update on the recommended officer actions made in relation to the Informal working group report submitted to Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 9 October 2023. The Board was informed that the report included an update is also provided covering current blue badge processing performance which highlights a number of ongoing challenges currently facing the service, along with an action plan for improvement. The Board considered the report and the information provided by the Portfolio Holder and Officers. A number of points were raised and responded to including:

·     Flexibly trained staff – It would be useful to have staff who would be able to backfill vacant positions, but it was important that this was aligned with the right staff and that the impact of staffing levels was not just shifted to a different area.

·     Incorrect applications – this previously resulted in the application being refused and a new application needing to be made but staff would also look at where applications could be amended /corrected to allow them to be processed without a completely new application

·     Enforcement – It was noted that parking enforcement would not be undertaken until three months after the expiry of a blue badge, but it was noted that this would only apply to Council car parks or on street parking.

·     Online application – there was nothing online to indicated that there was an alternative way to apply. It was noted that members of the public could go to a customer services centre to access a paper copy, but this would then need to be inputted by a member of staff.

·     Number of applications - It was noted that presently 900 applications were received each month, and it had only been possible to determine 850. It was currently taking approximately 14 weeks to process an application. In some cases, additional evidence was needed but this time was mostly just the time taken to start processing the application. It was noted that this wasn’t particularly an issue with Local Government Reorganisation but a matter of resources.

·     Resources – It was noted that the cost of the services was approximately £100k more than the funding received from the payment for the blue badges. Fees were only paid when the application was processed and approved. It was suggested that applicants could be given the option to set a calendar reminder to renew applications. The Board also asked about the cost of processing potentially fraudulent applications, it was noted that the impact of this was minimal.

·     Cycle of Applications – It was confirmed that the process of simpler verification of renewals had probably disrupted the cyclical flow of applications to some extent. It was suggested that the requirements for processing should be taken up universally through the Local Government Association. It was noted that a Doret MP had already agreed to take up with issue with government.  There had been an 11 percent increase in new applications since the previous year.

The Board discussed a number of issues around this being a national issue and made a number of suggestions which the Board requested the Portfolio Holder or Leader and the Chief Executive to take forward.

The Board RESOLVED that

(a)     The progress update on previously agreed actions were noted.

(b)    The update on current blue badge processing performance is noted.

(c)     The Portfolio Holder/Leader and the Chief Executive be asked to write to the Department for Transport to raise the concerns outlined by the O&S Board and that the Portfolio Holder take the issue forward with local MPs and the Local Government Association to encourage local authorities to raise these issues with the Department for Transport and request that central government gives local authorities the freedom to set fees which cover the cost of administering the system and that the system should be simplified in terms of renewal processes.

(d)    A further update be brought back to the Board in approximately 6 months.

 Voting: Nem. Con.

A concern was raised that any increase in fees should not be prohibitive to people receiving a blue badge.

It was suggested that staff be multidisciplinary trained in order to provide cover for absences.  It was also suggested that there should be an auto approval for blue badges for those with unaltering lifelong conditions