Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint that the Council refused her application for a Blue Badge. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complained about the Council’s decision to refuse her application for a Blue Badge.
2. Mrs X said the matter caused her frustration.

Back to top

The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. We investigate 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 continue an investigation if we decide there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

Back to top

My assessment

6. Mrs X applied for a Blue Badge. She supplied the Council with supporting documentation including medial information.
7. The Council considered Mrs X’s application and supporting evidence. It decided she did not meet the qualifying criteria and so refused her application.
8. Mrs X appealed the decision and provided additional evidence.
9. The Council considered the additional information as part of the appeal. It maintained the decision that she was not eligible for a Blue Badge.
10. We will not investigate this complaint. The Ombudsman is not an appeal body. Our role is to review the process by which decisions are made. We look for evidence of fault causing a significant injustice to the individual complainant.
11. The evidence shows the Council considered Mrs X’s application but decided she did not qualify for a Blue Badge. Although Mrs X disagrees with the outcome, there is insufficient evidence of fault to warrant an investigation by the Ombudsman, and so we will not investigate this complaint.

Back to top

Final decision

12. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman