Cambridgeshire County Council (21 008 899)
Category : Adult care services > Transport
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 09 Nov 2021
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to award a Blue Badge. This is because the Council will reconsider the application and do an in-person mobility assessment.
The complaint
- The complainant, whom I refer to as Mrs X, complains the Council refused her application for a Blue Badge.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- The Ombudsman investigates 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 an investigation if the Council offers a fair response. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Mrs X and the Council. I also considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Councils often do a mobility assessment to assess if someone is eligible for a Blue Badge. Mrs X applied for a badge but, due to Covid-19 restrictions, the Council could only do a telephone assessment. The Council decided Mrs X is not eligible for a badge. Mrs X scored 14 points and needed 16 points for a badge.
- The Council has offered to reconsider Mrs X’s application and do a face-to-face mobility assessment (subject to Mrs X completing a covid risk assessment before visiting the assessment building). The Council will then reassess the application based on the in-person assessment. The Council may still decide not to award a badge but the decision will be based on a stronger assessment of Mrs X’s mobility. It will be for the Council, not us, to decide whether to issue a badge.
- The Council will contact Mrs X about an appointment.
Final decision
- I will not investigate this complaint because the Council will do an-person mobility assessment and reassess the application.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman