Drivers in Hackney have been urged to reapply for a blue badge after an investigation revealed flaws in the council’s scheme.
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found that the scoring guidance used by the council to assess eligibility made it difficult for people with disabilities to qualify for a permit.
The council’s assessment process required blue badge permit applicants to have multiple ‘factors’ making them eligible, which the Ombudsman said was contrary to government guidance.
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, Ms Amerdeep Somal, said: ‘Because the council used flawed guidance to assess residents’ blue badge applications, it is likely more people in the borough have also been denied a blue badge when they would have qualified had Hackney’s guidance followed that of the Government.’
A council spokesperson said the local authority accepted the Ombudsman’s findings but added it was ‘confident’ that the majority of blue badge applications were assessed correctly.
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