Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to refuse an application to renew a Blue Badge. We have not seen enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council has refused his application to renew his Blue Badge. He says the Council:
• ignored the fact his circumstances have not changed from his previous application; and
• ignored medical information provided to support his application.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Blue Badges help people with disabilities or health conditions park closer to their destination. The Department for Transport sets out how councils should consider applications for a blue badge.
6. There are two types of eligibility, people who automatically qualify and those who qualify after further assessment.
7. Applicants who are automatically eligible if they are more than three years old and fall into at least one of six stated criteria. These include receiving:
• the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and has obtained 8 points or more under the “moving around” activity; or
• the mobility component of PIP and has obtained 10 points specifically for descriptor E under the “planning and following journeys” activity, on the grounds that they are unable to undertake any journey because it would cause them overwhelming psychological distress
8. Mr X applied to renew his Blue Badge. The information provided in support of Mr X’s application shows he scored 12 points under the “planning and following journeys” category. However, these points were not awarded because he is unable to undertake any journey because it would cause him overwhelming psychological distress. Therefore Mr X is not automatically eligible for a new Blue Badge.
9. Applicants may qualify after further assessment if they have any enduring (lasting for at least three years) and substantial disability that means they are, during a journey:
• at risk of serious harm
• when walking, or pose when walking, a risk of serious harm to themselves or any other person.
10. The information we received from the Council shows it considered the medical information provided to support Mr X’s application. Having done so it decided Mr X was not eligible for a blue badge.
11. I understand Mr X is unhappy with the Council’s decision. However, we will not investigate. The Council has considered the information and evidence he provided and applied the statutory guidance. It has set out its reasons why he is not eligible for a blue badge. This is a decision it is entitled to make.

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Final decision

12. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault in how it made that decision to justify our involvement.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman