The misuse of blue badge parking permits is “ridiculous”, a councillor has claimed.

Councillor David Coupe suggested a number of people were using the permits, when in his view, they were not entitled to do so.

Blue badges are a national scheme in the UK that allows people with disabilities or health conditions to park closer to their destination and can be used by drivers or passengers.

An annual counter fraud report delivered to Middlesbrough Council’s audit committee by the organisation Veritau had described a “day of action” which took place in June, alongside 80 other councils.

It involved checks on blue badges displayed in Middlesbrough to determine if they were being used properly by legitimate badge holders.

Two members of the public subsequently received formal written warnings about their conduct in relation to the permits.

Cllr Coupe said the day of action was “only scratching the surface”.

He told a meeting: “We need to do more checking up on the issuing of these things.

“The misuse of blue badges is in my opinion ridiculous.”

Veritau’s assistant director of corporate fraud, Jonathan Dodsworth agreed in response that more time could be spent on this issue, but said resources limited the work that could take place.

The report referenced investigative work carried out in 2023/24 and £65,000 had been identified as being lost to fraud generally, which was in the process of being recovered.

Meanwhile, £39,000 had been saved by stopping fraudulent payments.

The counter-fraud team supported two successful Middlesbrough Council prosecutions, one in which a business had a debt of nearly £300,000 in unpaid business rates with the money ordered to be paid back by magistrates.

Another case resulted in £7,800 worth of illegally obtained council tax discounts being recovered by the local authority, along with £1,270 awarded towards its costs.

The report said: “In addition, one person was cautioned, formal warnings  were issued to three people, debts owed to the council were calculated in a further seven cases, and the counter fraud team supported the council when a supplier’s e-mail system was compromised by cyber criminals.”

Veritau also said six “whistleblowing” reports were logged in 2023/24.

It said three complaints related to alleged corruption, two to potential misconduct by an employee and one an alleged breach of the employee code of conduct.

Three reports were deemed not to constitute whistleblowing, while the remainder resulted in investigations being carried out.

Meanwhile, a separate annual report by Veritau’s head of internal audit, Max Thomas said the overall opinion on Middlesbrough Council’s framework of governance, risk management and control that was operating was that it provides “reasonable assurance”.

In 2021/22 and 2022/23 only a limited assurance opinion was given.

Councillor Jill Ewan, who chairs the audit committee, said: “We seem to be heading in the right direction.”