It is crucial for us to understand how our community is affected by local and national policy. Blue Badges are an essential support for people with Parkinson’s who travel by car or taxi and so it is important for us to understand how effectively the scheme works for our community. We therefore ask that you provide responses to the following questions, as required by Freedom of Information Act 2000.

1. Firstly, please tell us which local authority’s data you are providing.
Wokingham Borough Council

Enabling Blue Badge applications
2. Do you advertise the Blue Badge scheme?
This is advertised on the Wokingham Borough Council Website

3. If you do advertise your Blue Badge scheme do you do so via
• your website homepage: No
• another page on your website: Yes
• on social media: No
• through direct mailing’ via other support services: No
• via displays in your offices/buildings: No
• some other way (please specify)

4. Do you provide support to apply for a Blue Badge?
Yes

5. If you do provide support to those applying for a Blue Badge scheme, how do provide that support via (please indicate all that apply):
• instructions on your website: Yes
• webchat functions:Yes
• a helpline: No
• email support by request: Yes
• support workers: Yes
• in person support at the office: Yes
• some other way (please specify)

6. At which points in the applicant journey do you offer support?
• At the start of the application process: Yes
• Available only upon request
• After a rejection: Is asked for
• At some other point(s) (please specify): By Phone, Email, Chat and if a applicant is reapplying because it had not been made eligible we are able to advise

7. Do you have a specific, nominated Blue Badge point of contact?
You can call 01189 746000 options 5&3 and ask for BB team or email DPB@wokingham.gov.uk

8. Do you provide information on what to expect when attending an independent mobility assessment?
No

About your assessors and assessments
9. Are your Blue Badge mobility assessors required to be a regulated healthcare professional?
N/A

10. What qualifications are your Badge mobility assessors required to hold?
N/A

11. What training are your Blue Badge mobility assessors required to undertake?
N/A

12. Are the Blue Badge mobility assessors in-house or outsourced?
N/A

About your processes
13. Do you offer the option of paper-based applications?
A Paper application is given in extreme cases such as Profoundly deaf or has no family or friends that can help them or no access to the Internet.

14. Do you offer the option of phone-based applications?
We do if there are no access to the internet or friend or family member that can do it for them

15. Do you allow friends, family or any other advocates to accompany applicants during their independent mobility assessment?
Yes

16. Do you use AI as part of your Blue Badge application process?
No

17. Do you have a process by which refused Blue Badge applicants can challenge a refusal.
Yes

18. If you do have a process by which refused Blue Badge applicants can challenge a refusal, please describe that process.
Please see link on how to appeal https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/parking-and-transport/blue-parking-badges/appeal-blue-badge-application-decision

19. Do you automatically renew Blue Badges where badge holders have an incurable, progressive, degenerative condition?
Yes with a new SR1 and Photo and £10.00 payment

20. Do you recognise and accept Blue Badges issued by other local authorities?
Yes

Please can you provide the following information for the period 01/01/20 to 31/12/23:
21. The number of Blue Badge applications received from people applying on the basis of walking difficulty, for each quarter from 01/01/20 to 31/12/23
We don’t hold this data for that period

22. The number of Blue Badge applications received from people applying on the basis of walking difficulty that were refused, for each quarter from 01/01/20 to 31/12/23
We don’t hold this data for that period

23. The number of Blue Badge applications received from people applying on the basis of walking difficulty who list Parkinson’s as one of the conditions they live with, for each quarter from 01/01/20 to 31/12/23
We don’t hold this data for Parkinson related applications

24. The number of Blue Badge applications received from people applying on the basis of walking difficulty who list Parkinson’s as one of the conditions they live with, that were refused, for each quarter from 01/01/20 to 31/12/23
We don’t hold this data for Parkinson related applications

25. The number of Blue Badge applications received from people applying based on walking difficulty who list Parkinson’s as one of the conditions they live with, that were referred for an independent mobility assessment, for each quarter from 01/01/20 to 31/12/23
We don’t hold this data for Parkinson related applications

26. The number of Blue Badge applications received from people applying based on walking difficulty who list Parkinson’s as one of the conditions they live with, that were refused following an independent mobility assessment, for each quarter from 01/01/20 to 31/12/23
We don’t hold this data for Parkinson related applications

27. The average length of time it took to process a Blue Badge application, for each quarter from 01/01/20 to 31/12/23
Please see attached file