Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Mr X’s blue badge application. This is because we could not reasonably achieve more through investigation.

The complaint

1. Mr X disagrees with the Council’s decision that he does not qualify for a blue badge. Mr X claims the Council did not assess him properly and requests a face-to-face assessment.

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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 there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation. (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 the complainant and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Mr X applied for a blue badge. The Council assessed the paperwork and completed a desk-based assessment and decided Mr X did not qualify. Mr X appealed this decision, prompting a review. However, the Council upheld its original decision and rejected the application, again without a face-to-face assessment.
6. While we were considering the complaint

I think my suggestion is more accurate and neutral.

, the Council completed an in-person mobility assessment. This is what Mr X was requesting, and we could not reasonably achieve more than this by investigating whether the Council might have been at fault for not offering a face-to-face assessment sooner

Suggest adding this just to emphasise we haven’t taken a view on whether Cl was at fault.

.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because we could not reasonably achieve more than the Council has now done.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman