Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council trucks parking in a disabled bay. The Council has confirmed it has directed staff not to park in disabled bays. Further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

The complaint

1. The complaint, I shall call Miss K complains council staff repeatedly park council trucks in disabled parking bays. This prevents her from using the disabled bays.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Ombudsman investigates complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service but must use public money carefully. We do not start or may decide not to continue with an investigation if we decide:

• we could not add to any previous investigation by the organisation
• further investigation would not lead to a different outcome

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by Miss K and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Following Miss K’s repeated complaints, the Council advised that Council vehicles, when carrying out statutory duties are exempt from certain parking restrictions. However, it confirms it has ordered all staff not to park in disabled bays.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Miss K’s complaint because it is unlikely that further investigation will lead to a different outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman