Q1: Do you think that the Scheme's assessed eligibility criteria should be brought into closer alignment with that used for the Higher Rate Component of Disability Living Allowance (HRMCDLA) by:

(a) Raising the maximum age that a child can qualify for a badge due to a specific medical condition (i.e. a dependence on bulky medical equipment or the need for emergency medical treatment) from two to three years

Yes _

No

(b) Raising the minimum age criteria for the main Assessed Eligibility Criteria to three years

Yes _

No

(c) Enabling people that are severely mentally impaired or who have extremely disruptive behavioural problems to qualify for a badge under the assessed eligibility criteria

Yes _

No

(d) Lowering the minimum badge issue period (currently 3 years) to:

i) 1 year;

Yes _

No

ii) 18 months; or

Yes

No

iii) No, keep it as it is (3 years)

Yes

No

Please explain your reasons or add any additional comments you wish to make (including the conditions that you think should be covered by the revised eligibility criteria):

It is important that there is fairness and therefore in principle severe mobility problems arising from psychological problems should be addressed. The addition of those with mental needs should be very strictly defined so that assessment is straightforward and eligibility restricted to cover only those conditions which significantly impair access to day to day services.

On badge issue, this could be one year for temporary conditions. It would also be helpful to make it easier for those who are infirm to renew badges - like a passport.

Q2: What do you perceive the impact would be of making the above changes on:

(a) The number of people granted badges:

There are 60,000 badge holders in Hampshire County Council's area, of which 75% are assessed. It is not anticipated that the changes relating to children will have a significant impact in the number of badges issued. If the criteria for severe mental impairment are strictly drawn, the numbers should be modest. The Council has no information on temporary disability problems.

(b) Availability of disabled parking spaces:

There will be no change in the number of on street spaces, however as off-street spaces are a significant element of provision, the number of reserved spaces can often be increased if needed.

(c) Local government administration and costs:

The most significant costs are in the assessment of applicants and dealing with appeals. Precise criteria will keep costs at a level that is reasonable, provided eligibility is not significantly widened.

(d) Other:

Q3: Do you think that local authorities should have more discretion to vary the yellow line and on-street parking concessions (e.g. allowing badge holders to park without charge for more time in some areas and less in others depending on local traffic conditions and disabled access?)

Yes

No _

Please explain your reasons or add any additional comments you wish to make:

The scheme needs to be simple and consistent across the UK to make it readily used by mobility impaired. Where there is a substantial problem to be addressed, a new category of restriction should be introduced (eg red routes in London). The time limit of three hours could be reduced everywhere.

Q4: Would you support redrawing the London Concession (the regulations that exempts the four Central London boroughs from the national Blue Badge Scheme) so that it is aligned with the clearly marked, London Congestion Zone - recognising that the zone may alter in size?

Yes

No

Please explain your reasons or add any additional comments you wish to make:

Q5: Do you have any further suggestions in relation to the future concessions associated with the Blue Badge?

Please add any additional comments you wish to make:

Yes

No _

Q6: Do you support the introduction of :

(a) A national framework for sharing Blue Badge data between issuing authorities and with on-street
enforcement agencies?

Yes _

No

(b) New technology features to the badge e.g. a machine readable badge that can be read by local authority hand held devices?

Yes _

No

Please explain your reasons or add any additional comments you wish to make:

Provided the cost is not disproportionate and data security arrangements are appropriate, this will provide an effective tool for checking abuse as part of parking management.

Q7: Do you think that parking enforcement officers should be given a legal power (like the police) to remove misused badges on the spot?

Yes _

No

Please explain your reasons or add any additional comments you wish to make:

Q8: Do you have any other ideas for improving enforcement and/or public understanding of the Scheme?

Wrongful use of the badge could be subject to parking fines. The wrongful use may be without the badge holder's consent.

Q9: Do you think that local authorities should be able to charge more than the existing £2 maximum badge issue fee - to more appropriately covers costs?

Yes _

No

Please explain your reasons or add any additional comments you wish to make:

Councillors noted that not all blue badge holders are on low incomes and it is appropriate to charge the full cost of administration, subject to concessions for those on low incomes.

Q10: Do you have any suggestions for alternatives to the Scheme for meeting the mobility needs of people that do not qualify for a badge (e.g. people with Autism, Alzheimer's, mental health problems, Crohn's or Colitis, learning difficulties and partially sighted people).

Please provide your suggestions in the space provided:

Q11: Is there anything else that the Government could do to improve the wider personal mobility of badge holders (e.g. enhanced local taxi voucher schemes)?

Yes

No

Please explain your reasons or add any additional comments you wish to make:

The Council is an upper tier authority and therefore has insufficient experience of travel concessions.

Q12: Is there anything that the Government could do to encourage badge holders to use public transport more often?

Yes _

No

Please explain your reasons or add any additional comments you wish to make:

It would be helpful if bus operators were required to maintain low floor, accessible buses on routes where the Local Authority had made significant investment in redesigned road infrastructure to match the availability of such vehicles or as part of a quality partnership.

Q13: Do you have any other comments or suggestions for reforming the Scheme?

Yes

No _

Please explain your reasons or add any additional comments you wish to make: