Decision details

Lancashire is the highest issuing authority of Blue Badges in England but is the only authority in England to provide Blue Badge for free. This is despite the guidelines governing the Blue Badge scheme, set by the Department for Transport, allowing authorities to charge up to £10 for printed Blue Badges.

Up to around 58% of the costs of administering the Blue Badge scheme in Lancashire could be recovered if charging were introduced.

This reports sets out a recommendation to approve the draft Lancashire Blue Badge policy, following a review of the council's Blue Badge service, including a proposal to introduce a charge of £10 for issuing new and replacement Blue Badges to Lancashire citizens.

The Committee considered a report on the proposed introduction of a Lancashire Blue Badge Policy, including a charging fee for the issue of Blue Badges, as from 1 January 2016.

An Equality Analysis was presented at Appendix 'B' to the report.

Resolved:  That the recommendations set out in the report to the Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services and the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing be noted, and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.