Decision details

To request approval to charge a fee of £10.00 for the provision of a Blue (disabled) Parking Badge

It is necessary for the Council to make a decision on whether to charge for the Blue Badges.  The information on this change to the service arrived after the budget setting process was completed and will be in place before the completion of the next budget round.  A formal decision to charge is, therefore, necessary

Evaluation of the government’s database and application form has demonstrated that this can be used by Wiltshire to satisfy the current excellent service we provide.  In addition it offers the opportunity for us to gain from the fraud and other centralised checking services.  Historic information will need to be retained on the existing database until the expiration of the badges in three years.  After that time the Council will not need to maintain a database and the associated licence and running costs.

Councillor John Thomson, The Cabinet Member Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Communities and Housing has lobbied the government about these changes and the increased charge.  Whilst his points have been listened to, the government is continuing to roll out the new badges and process for the production of the badges which means that Wiltshire will be required to comply and consequently increase its costs.

The Council are not able to refuse to comply with the new government arrangements for the provision of badges since these are mandatory and the new badges can only be issued through the government’s supplier Northgate.

The Council could continue with its policy of not charging for a Blue Badge however, in the current financial climate it is not possible to absorb the additional mandatory charge by government to the Council of £4.60 per badge and the additional processing times.

The reform programme has been developed by the government in consultation with disabled people, local authorities and other stakeholders, and on the basis of research and economic analysis.

          Checks have been made with surrounding authorities on the charges they intend to make. The findings are below:-