MOST of us have fallen victim at one time or another to a ‘jobsworth’ - an official who, through an unbending approach to the rules and unwillingness to adapt to exceptional circumstances, has caused an unnecessary problem.

Annoying as such incidents can be, they are, thankfully usually both rare and not on issues of vital importance.

The same most certainly cannot be said of the shocking decision delivered to one of the area’s most valued, and loved, charities this week.

Otley Action for Older People offers a whole range of support services to older residents in Otley, Pool and Arthington, not least of which is the ability to arrange free, door-to-door transport.

That service relies on its volunteer-driven minibus which uses a Blue Badge to allow it to park as close as possible to the homes of the often frail people it is collecting, and drop them off as near as possible to their destination.

Given the very nature of the charity’s work and the purpose of its minibus, which is registered as a disabled passenger vehicle, you would have thought its bid to have its disabled parking badge renewed would be a ‘no-brainer’.

But Leeds City Council had other ideas saying it doesn’t qualify for a Blue Badge.

The local authority blames the ruling on a tightening of national guidelines, which certainly have happened and no doubt place an extra pressure on the shoulders of those making the decisions.

But councils also retain some discretion as to how they apply the rules, and in cases like this we can only concur with Councillor Ryk Downes - Leeds City Council needs to quickly acquire, and implement, a dose of good old-fashioned common sense.