Minutes:
(Councillor M Thirlaway left the Chamber)
It was moved by Councillor Dr O Scargill and seconded by Councillor J Johnsson that:
North Tyneside Council notes that:
• Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive neurological condition that severely impacts the lives of over 145,000 people in the UK, including residents in North Tyneside. The symptoms of Parkinson’s can vary greatly from person to person and fluctuate not only day-to-day but even hour-to-hour, often including mobility issues, tremors, freezing, pain, and extreme fatigue.
• The Equality Act 2010 recognises Parkinson’s as a long-term disability from the point it starts to affect daily life, with such effects worsening over time. People with Parkinson’s are legally entitled to reasonable adjustments in public life to account for their mobility and safety needs.
• The Blue Badge Scheme provides vital parking concessions for individuals with severe mobility issues, allowing them to access destinations more easily. However, the current eligibility criteria, set by the Department for Transport, does not fully take into account the fluctuating and unpredictable nature of Parkinson’s symptoms.
• Concerns raised by Parkinson’s UK and members of the North Tyneside Parkinson’s community indicate that many individuals with the condition are being denied Blue Badges, despite significant mobility challenges. The current application process does not adequately reflect the needs of those whose ability to walk may vary throughout the day, nor does it take into consideration the necessity for these individuals to be close to their vehicles due to sudden changes in symptoms.
• The Parkinson’s UK Campaign highlights that the rigidity of the current Blue Badge criteria is deterring individuals with Parkinson’s from applying, exacerbating feelings of isolation and creating unnecessary barriers to independence.
Council asks the Mayor to:
• Write to the Secretary of State for Transport, calling on the government to review and amend the Blue Badge eligibility criteria to better account for fluctuating conditions like Parkinson’s and other progressive neurological diseases, ensuring that mobility assessments reflect the full impact of such conditions on daily life and also introduce a clear, accessible appeal process for Blue Badge applicants who are denied, ensuring they are given an adequate chance to provide further medical evidence or clarification regarding their condition.
• Request that officers provide additional support and guidance to individuals with Parkinson’s or other progressive conditions in navigating the Blue Badge application process.
Votes for the Motion:
Councillors T Bailey, J Bartoli, L Bartoli, Linda Bell, Louise Bell, L Bones, P Bunyan, B Burdis, S Burtenshaw, B Clark, K Clark, S Cox, J Cruddas, E Darke, L Darke, S Day, D Drummond, P Earley, S Graham, C Gray, I Grayson, T Hallway, J Harrison, A Holdsworth, J Hunter, N Huscroft, C Johnson, H Johnson, J Johnsson, J Kirwin, D Lilly, F Lott, W Lott, L Marshall, I McAlpine, C McGinty, A McMullen, J Montague, J Mudzingwa, T Mulvenna, M Murphy, T Neira, A Newman, K Nott, P Oliver, R O’Keefe, S Phillips, B Pickard, N Redfearn, W Samuel, Dr O Scargill, J Shaw, A Spowart, J Walker, J Wallace, J Webster.
The Motion was approved unanimously by all 56 members present.
(Councillor Thirlaway returned to the meeting)