Kingston Council's Blue Badge Appeals Panel is scheduled to convene on Friday, 28 November 2025, to address an appeal against the refusal of a Blue Badge. The meeting, however, will be held behind closed doors, excluding both the press and the public.
The panel, consisting of Councillor Helen Grocott, Councillor Peter Herlinger, Councillor Anita Schaper, Councillor Thay Thayalan and Councillor Diane White, will consider Appeal No. 1, where a resident is challenging the council's decision to deny them a Blue Badge. According to the Public Reports Pack, the panel's role is limited to a procedural audit, as outlined in the Blue Badge Appeals Panel - Guide to Procedure.
The Guide to Procedure states the panel's objectives are to:
- Determine whether any procedural irregularity occurred in the initial assessment or the Stage 1 Internal Review.
- Assure that the correct processes were followed throughout.
- Review the grounds for appeal and any new or additional information strictly insofar as it relates to process.
The panel cannot conduct a clinical or functional reassessment, nor can it directly issue a Blue Badge.
During the meeting, the appellant will present their case, followed by presentations from the Corporate Head of Customer Experience (CHOS) or a delegated manager, a member of the stage 1 review group and the expert assessor who reviewed the case. The panel will then deliberate privately, using a Decision Support Tool/criteria
to assess the fairness and consistency of the process.
Possible outcomes include referring the case back for reassessment due to a procedural flaw or dismissing the appeal if the process is deemed sound. If a 'Procedural Irregularity' is found, the case is referred back for a mandatory reassessment by the Concessionary Travel Team to correct the specific procedural fault identified. The panel deliberates privately, supported by the 'Decision Support Tool/criteria' to assess whether the process was applied fairly and consistently. The appellant will receive a written decision letter within 15 working days of the hearing. If the appeal is dismissed and the appellant believes there was 'maladministration' or 'unfair treatment' in the appeal process, they may escalate via the Council's 'Complaints' process.
The decision to exclude the public and press is based on Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, as the appeal is expected to involve the disclosure of exempt information relating to a particular individual, as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act. The meeting will be held in private because the appeal is expected to involve the disclosure of exempt information relating to a particular individual, as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act. The Agenda for the meeting outlines this motion.
