Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint that the Council refused her application for a Blue Badge. This is because the Council has now agreed to issue a Blue Badge so an investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complained that the Council unfairly refused her application for a Blue Badge.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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 further investigation would not lead to a different outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

5. Shortly after asking the Council to investigate her complaint, the Council wrote to Mrs X to say that it would be issuing her with a Blue Badge because it now had the sufficient evidence that she was eligible.
6. I will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because a Blue Badge has been issued to her, so an investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because an investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman