Agenda item - Blue Badge Fraud Investigation Update

Report of the Acting Executive Director, Environment, Development & Housing (copy attached).

1)           That the Committee notes the update provided.

2)           That the Committee notes the possible ways forward to develop the service outlined in para 6.2 and requests the Acting Executive Director to investigate the possibilities and resources available during the current service redesign in Transport.

78.1      The Committee considered a report of the Acting Executive Director Environment, Development & Housing that provided an update on Blue Badge investigation following a successful joint funding bid with East Sussex County Council and Sussex Police and outlined possible ways forward to develop the service following its success and national recognition.

78.2      Councillor Barradell welcomed the report stating that she sincerely hoped the scheme could be continued and that the increased publicity would lead to offenders handing in badges voluntarily rather than through investigation.

78.3      Referring to page 229, Councillor Sykes noted a correction to the document as if there were 7,200 incidents of Blue Badge fraud across the country; this would equate to a £36 million cost to local authorities not £3.6 million as stated.  Councillor Sykes stated that there was a clear business case to continue the scheme but asked why a conservative value of £500 per Blue Badge had been used as this was contrary to the view of the Audit Commission who set the figure at £5,000 over a three year period.

78.4      The Parking Strategy Manager explained that the focus of the Audit Commission’s work in this area had been focussed in London and the £116,000 figure used in the report correlated with the council’s estimated loss of parking income.

78.5      Councillor Theobald welcomed the report and asked if it was possible to enter a partnership with West Sussex in the initiative.

78.6      The Parking Services Team Leader clarified that West Sussex currently did not have sufficient resources to enter the scheme but council officers did have good connections with colleagues in that authority.

78.7      Councillor Janio enquired as to the plan of action if incidents of Blue Badge fraud dropped.

78.8      The Parking Scheme Manager stated that work to this point had only focussed on the Hove area and investigations were yet to take place in the central Brighton area. The number of incidents had been at a steady average so far and had not reduced.

78.9      RESOLVED-

1)           That the Committee notes the update provided.

2)           That the Committee notes the possible ways forward to develop the service outlined in para 6.2 and requests the Acting Executive Director to investigate the possibilities and resources available during the current service redesign in Transport.