Independent Mobility Assessment for Blue Badge Applications

Southend Borough Council (SBC) currently has a contract in place until February 2017 for the provision of an independent mobility assessment service for blue badge applications and is now tendering for a 3 year contract to commence from 1st March 2017. The aim of the Blue Badge Scheme is to help disabled people with severe mobility problems to access goods and services, by allowing them to park close to their destination. The scheme is open to eligible disabled people irrespective of whether they are travelling as a driver or as a passenger. The scheme provides a national range of on-street parking concessions to Blue Badge holders. It allows them to park without charge or time limit in otherwise restricted on-street parking environments, and allows them to park on yellow lines for up to 3 hours, unless a loading ban is in place. Local authorities are responsible for the day-to-day administration and enforcement of the scheme. They are responsible for determining and implementing administrative, assessment and enforcement procedures which they believe are in accordance with the governing legislation. With effect from 1st April 2012 legislation prescribed that the eligibility of those applying because of a ‘permanent and substantial disability that causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking’ be confirmed by an independent medical assessor.