Success of Automated Blue Badge Scheme

The Highland Council is the first local authority in Scotland to introduce a fully automated Blue Badge scheme, offering customers a quicker and more efficient service. 

Blue Badge parking permits are issued to residents whose mobility is severely impaired and allows holders to park in restricted areas. In the Highlands there are approximately 12,000 registered Blue Badge holders and staff at The Highland Council’s Service Centre in Alness, are currently processing an average of 330 applications each month. 

As well as simplifying the process for badge holders, since switching to an automated system, the time taken for the Council to process an application has been dramatically cut.  Communication with GP surgeries has been improved and complete applications can be processed and badges now issued within 48 working hours.  The new system also automatically sends out reminders to card holders to advise them when their badge is about to expire, therefore making both the initial and reapplication process much simpler and speedier for customers.

Another advantage of the new system used by The Highland Council is that people applying for a Blue Badge are now only required to supply one passport sized photograph. 

Convener of The Highland Council, Councillor Sandy Park said:  “Through our Customer Relations Management system we were able to identify improvements to the whole Blue Badge process to make it more streamlined and to reduce paperwork and the associated costs of postage and stationery.  Previously applications could take anything up to 6 weeks to be processed but since switching to a much more efficient automated system, we are able to offer a greatly improved service to customers.  It is a credit to the hard work of staff involved with this project that we are now being flagged-up nationally as an example of good practice. The most important thing however is that we as a Council are committed to providing the very best of services to our customers.”

Lynne Duff from the Scottish Government’s Strategy and Policy Branch, said:  “The Scottish Government is committed to the needs of disabled people and welcomes the achievements of The Highland Council in introducing the first fully automated Blue Badge Scheme in Scotland.”

Anyone looking for further information about applying for a Blue Badge can contact their local Service Point,or visit the Council’s website http://www.www.highland.gov.uk/