Public consultation on changes to the Blue Badge Scheme
Overview
Cumbria County Council is holding a consultation which will gauge the public’s views on a proposed increase in the cost of a Blue Badge in Cumbria.
The Blue Badge scheme allows people with severe mobility problems to park close to where they need to go. Badges are usually valid for three years.
The proposed fee increase from £2 to £10 comes as a result of major reforms to the service announced by national government.
The national changes mean that there will be an increase in the cost for local councils to administer the scheme. In light of this the government has asked councils to review the fee to apply for or renew a badge.
Should the proposal go ahead, it will be the first time there has been an increase in the cost of a blue badge in almost 30 years.
The increased fee will enable better checks on applicants which will prevent fraud and misuse of the scheme, meaning better access to parking for those people who genuinely need it.
The improvements include better security measures which will mean that Blue Badges cannot be duplicated. A new national database will also mean that quick and easy checks can be made on cars displaying a Blue Badge.
Why we are consulting
The county council is currently seeking feedback from members of the public, Blue Badge holders and organisations in the county on the proposed increase to the fee.
We would like to know whether you think the fee increase is reasonable and affordable.
The consultation is open until 16 December 2011. The feedback received will be considered by the county council’s Cabinet members who will make a final decision on the fee in January.
What happens next
This consultation is open until 16 December 2011.
The feedback received will be considered by the county council’s Cabinet members who will make a final decision on the fee in January.
Related information
Links:
Results
We received 1216 responses to the consultation regarding proposed changes to the blue badge scheme.
This included postal, email and online responses.
Most people who responded (96%) were blue badge holders.
More than three quarters of people - 78% - who responded said they agreed or strongly agreed that the increase in fee from £2 for three years to £10 for three years was reasonable.
Four out of every five respondents (80%) agreed or strongly agreed that they would be able to afford the increase in fee.
County council Cabinet members received a report at their January 2012 meeting which gave details of responses to the consultation, as well as a detailed breakdown of the costs of delivering the scheme.
As a result of this information Cabinet members resolved that:
- in line with national legislative changes and following local consultation, the recommendation is to increase the Blue Badge fee to the maximum of £10. This would be paid every 3 years by badge holders;
- the badge fee to be introduced with effect from 1 March 2012.
Links:
Feedback
- We Asked
- We received 1216 responses to the consultation regarding proposed changes to the blue badge scheme. This included postal, email and online responses. We asked the following questions: Are you a blue badge holder? To what extent do you agree or disagree that the increase in fee is reasonable? To what extent do you agree or disagree that you will be able to afford the increase in fee?
- You said
- Through the responses we recieved, the results were as follows: Most people who responded (96%) were blue badge holders. More than three quarters of people - 78% - who responded said they agreed or strongly agreed that the increase in fee from £2 for three years to £10 for three years was reasonable. Four out of every five respondents (80%) agreed or strongly agreed that they would be able to afford the increase in fee.
- We did
- County council Cabinet members received a report at their January 2012 meeting which gave details of responses to the consultation, as well as a detailed breakdown of the costs of delivering the scheme. As a result of this information Cabinet members resolved that: 1.in line with national legislative changes and following local consultation, the recommendation is to increase the Blue Badge fee to the maximum of £10. This would be paid every 3 years by badge holders; 2.the badge fee to be introduced with effect from 1 March 2012.
