Inquiry into 'appalling' delays over issuing parking blue badges
Renewals, and new applications, in the BCP area are being told that the process is likely to take three months.
Last updated 15th Jun 2023
An inquiry is to be held into the “appalling” delays to renew parking blue badges in the Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole Council area.
Renewals, and new applications, are being told that the process is likely to take three months.
Councillors will question whether some of the difficulties are caused by the service being outsourced, rather than the process being dealt with by staff.
Cllr Steve Bartlett, who chairs the BCP corporate and community overview and scrutiny committee, said the inquiry would also look at why there was no reminder process for those whose blue badges needed to be renewed.
He said he suspected that very few people remembered when the renewal date was and even less were likely to start planning for that renewal more than three months ahead.
“If your car tax runs out you get a letter telling you, but if you have a blue badge you get nothing,” he said.
Cllr Bartlett said there was also a concern that many of those applying for a new badge, or renewing one, were likely to be less likely to be able to deal with the online process.
Cllr Tony Trent told the committee that Census returns showed that a third of the population did not have what was considered to be adequate online access, either because of a lack of equipment or expertise.
Said Cllr Karen Rampton: “Twelve weeks is absolutely appalling, people shouldn’t have to wait that long,” claiming that she believed most of the problems were caused by the process being outsourced.
The inquiry, a small panel of councillors, will report back to the October meeting of the corporate and community overview and scrutiny committee.