Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council assessed a Blue Badge application. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault to warrant our involvement.

The complaint

1. Miss X complained the Council declined her Blue Badge application. She said the assessment relied on incorrect and inconsistent information. She said without a Blue Badge, accessing everyday services is very difficult. She wants the Council to complete a new 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 not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating, or
• 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 the complainant and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Miss X complained the Council did not assess her Blue Badge application properly. The Council completed a telephone assessment and then informed Miss X it declined her application because she did not meet the criteria for a Blue Badge.
6. Miss X appealed the Council’s deicion and it assessed new evidence provided. An Expert Assessor concluded that Miss X did not meet the criteria for a Blue Badge. The Council provided Miss X a copy of the assessment report which explained its reasons.
7. Since the Council’s decision Miss X made a further Blue Badge application. The Council initially declined the application however Miss X appealed the decision and an Expert Assessor decided that she met the criteria after considering the evidence provided and a mobility assessment.
8. We will not investigate this complaint for the following reasons:
• We are not an appeal body and only consider if there is fault in the way the Council made its decision. The Council considered the evidence Miss X provided with her application and set out its reasons for its decision to decline. Miss X may disagree, but there is not enough evidence of fault in how the Council made its decision to justify our involvement.
• Since the Council’s decision Miss X made a new application. The Council initially declined her application however at the appeal stage an Expert Assessor decided Miss X met the criteria for a Blue Badge. The Council has issued a Blue Badge to Miss X and therefore further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to warrant our involvement.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman