Issue - meetings

A report from the Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services is attached. This seeks approval to Enfield’s fee for issuing Blue Badges.  (Key decision – reference number 3396)

(Report No.161)

(8.50 – 8.55 pm)

Councillor Chris Bond (Cabinet Member for Environment) introduced the report of the Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services (No.161) recommending that Enfield’s fee for issuing Blue Badges be increased to an appropriate level, in order to recover the cost of providing the service.

NOTED

1.         that an additional recommendation was proposed, as detailed in decision 3 below, to receive a further report to Cabinet to review the impact of the changes two months following the implementation;

2.         that Members welcomed the proposed review.

Alternative Options Considered: The Council could leave the charge as it was (£2), but this option was not feasible as it did not cover the costs of the production of the badge, which would be produced externally.

DECISION: The Cabinet agreed to

1.         increase the charge of Blue Badges to £10, in order to recover the cost of administering the service;

2.         to enter into an access agreement with Northgate Information Solutions Limited for the provision of blue badges, as stipulated by the Department for Transport;

3.         bring back to Cabinet an update report within two months of the implementation to review any impact and/or cost implications of the report recommendations.

Reason: From 1 January 2012, the only option available to the Council to get Blue Badges produced/issued was to use the Blue Badge Improvement Service at a minimum cost of £4.60 per badge.

(Key decision – reference number 3396)