Blue Badge applications

During the year from 1st April 2015 to 31st March 2016, how many applications or reapplications for Blue Badges were received by Devon County Council?

During the year from 1st April 2015 to 31st March 2016, how many Blue Badges were issued or reissued by Devon County Council?

Of those Blue Badges issued or reissued, how many were issued or reissued without requiring the applicant to undergo an assessment?

5206 – Includes 326 replacement badge

During the year from 1st April 2015 to 31st March 2016, of those applicants initially refused a Blue Badge, how many were issued with a Blue Badge:
after the first appeal stage?

134

after the second appeal stage?

6
During the year from 1st April 2015 to 31st March 2016, how many applicants for Blue Badges listed Chronic Dilated Cardiomyopathy amongst their reasons for requiring a Blue Badge?

Unfortunately it is not possible to answer this question without looking at each application to identify those which mention Chronic Dilated Cardiomyopathy – including the 16669 which were processed and the 784 which were not. The condition is one of many which be mentioned as free text in a form of four or five pages. We have estimated that it would take approximately five minutes to identify, find, open and read each application so as the total time necessary would be way in excess of the 18 hour limit specified by Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act the information requested is exempt.

Of the applicants listing Chronic Dilated Cardiomyopathy amongst their reasons for requiring a Blue Badge, how many were issued or reissued with a Blue badge without being required to undergo an assessment, and how many were required to undergo an assessment?

Eligibility is not determined by the presence or absence of any particular diagnosis or condition. Provided that an applicant has a permanent and substantial disability, a local authority’s eligibility decision will be based on whether the applicant’s difficulty in walking meets the criterion in the regulations. Each application will be considered on its merits – not on a “one size fits all” basis.

I would also like you to send to me Devon County Council’s policy and procedures relating to the issue and reissue of Blue Badges along, with details of the associated appeals procedures.

Whilst responsibility for issuing of Blue Badges lies with the Local Authority, the regulations surrounding the policy and procedures relating to the issue and reissue of Blue Badges lie with the Department for Transport (DfT) in the The Blue Badge Scheme Local Authority Guidance – October 2014

There is no legal requirement for local authorities to have an appeals procedure in place if someone disagrees with the reason why their application for a Blue Badge was not successful. However local authorities are strongly recommended to establish an internal procedure to deal with appeals against a decision not to issue a badge. Devon County Council has a clearly documented process, a copy of which is attached.  Every unsuccessful applicant is provided with guidance on how to appeal the decision if required.