Blue Badge Independent Mobility Assessment Process
Case reference FOI2026/02051
Received 26 August 2026
Published 18 September 2026
Request
1) Does the council rely on externally commissioned services or employ in-house assessors for blue badge Independent Mobility Assessments?
2) If you use an externally commissioned service, could you provide the name of this service provider?
3) If the council internally employs in-house assessors, please specify the number of clinically trained assessors and administrative staff who work on blue badge applications.
4) Do you collaborate with local GP services or NHS trusts to conduct blue badge assessments?
5) How many of your applications are received through the .gov blue badge digital portal?
6) How many applications are received direct to the council outside of the .gov blue badge digital portal process?
7) Do members of the blue badge administration team fill out an application on either the .gov blue badge digital portal, or an internal form on behalf of an applicant that feels they are unable to do it themselves?
8) Do you use an internal digital case management system for blue badge applications? If so, what is the name of this system.
9) What is your current cost per assessment? (i.e. triage, telephone assessment & Independent Mobility Assessment)
Response
1) Does the council rely on externally commissioned services or employ in-house assessors for blue badge Independent Mobility Assessments?
Answer: The Service Area have advised we currently use an external provider for blue badge Independent Mobility Assessments.
2) If you use an externally commissioned service, could you provide the name of this service provider?
Answer: The Occupational Therapy Service.
3) If the council internally employs in-house assessors, please specify the number of clinically trained assessors and administrative staff who work on blue badge applications.
Answer: The Service Area have advised there are no clinically trained internal staff, however there are 5 trained non-clinical administrative officers and 1 Supervisor.
4) Do you collaborate with local GP services or NHS trusts to conduct blue badge assessments?
Answer: No.
5) How many of your applications are received through the .gov blue badge digital portal?
Answer: None.
6) How many applications are received direct to the council outside of the .gov blue badge digital portal process?
Answer: The Service Area have advised all applications are received direct to the council outside of the .gov blue badge digital portal process.
7) Do members of the blue badge administration team fill out an application on either the .gov blue badge digital portal, or an internal form on behalf of an applicant that feels they are unable to do it themselves?
Answer: The Service Area have advised yes, we offer assisted application appointments.
8) Do you use an internal digital case management system for blue badge applications? If so, what is the name of this system.
Answer: Granicus Firmstep.
9) What is your current cost per assessment? (i.e. triage, telephone assessment & Independent Mobility Assessment)
Answer: The costs per assessment has been withheld under Section 43 (1) and / or (2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 because disclosure would, or would be likely, to prejudice the commercial interests of The Occupational Therapy Service.
In reaching this decision I have taken into account relevant guidance provided by the Information Commissioner's Office including whether the information in question is commercial or industrial.
Herefordshire Council is satisfied that the information to which the exemption has been applied contains information which could constitute a business secret of The Occupational Therapy Service as well as commercial interests.
Disclosure of the withheld information would adversely affect The Occupational Therapy Service. The withheld information contains details of the prices the company charges the council for various delivery options, and from release of this information it would be possible to estimate the company's underlying costs. This information is unique to that company, proprietary in nature and provides a detailed overview of the way that the company approaches such deliveries. The company has stated that disclosure of this information would be of advantage to their direct competitors, thereby negating their ability to develop a commercial advantage when tendering for this contract in the future with Herefordshire Council, or for similar contracts elsewhere.
The council accepts the legitimate economic interests of the company would be likely to be prejudiced by disclosure of the information.
The council is also able to consider its own economic interests in addition to those of The Occupational Therapy Service. The council feels that confidentiality is required to protect its position as purchaser. Disclosing this information would be likely to affect the ability of the council to negotiate best value and to effectively procure services in the future.
In coming to this decision, I have weighed up the public interest for disclosure against the public interest in not disclosing the information and the commercial interests of The Occupational Therapy Service as follows:
The public interest in disclosure:
Openness and transparency of costs per assessment for Blue Badges and demonstrating best value for money in public contracting.
The public interest in not disclosing the information and the commercial interests of The Occupational Therapy Service
These rates are commercially live and form part of the suppliers confidential pricing strategy in a competitive market for outsourced occupational therapy, Blue Badge and related independent assessment services.
Disclosure of the information would provide competitors with a current reference point that could be used against The Occupational Therapy Service in other competitions and by prospective clients as a negotiating anchor.
A competitor could use the rates to benchmark The Occupational Therapy Service’s exact price points and selectively undercut them in future tenders, call offs or negotiations for identical or substantially similar services. The separate prices for the three assessment routes would also enable competitors to infer the relative resource and cost assumptions within The Occupational Therapy Service’s delivery model, reducing the commercial uncertainty they would otherwise face when constructing their own bids.
Taking the above into consideration, I have found the public interest in disclosing the information in this case is outweighed by the public interest in not disclosing the information. Please therefore take this letter as a refusal notice under S17 of the Act.
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
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