Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council's refusal of a Blue Badge application because further investigation would unlikely lead to a different outcome.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains on behalf of his friend, Mr Y. Mr X says the Council refused Mr Y’s Blue Badge application and subsequent appeal. He says the Council did not properly consider the appeal and failed to take account of Mr Y’s significant mobility difficulties.
2. Mr X says Mr Y has several health conditions affecting his mobility. He wants the Council to reconsider its decision and award Mr Y a Blue Badge as it would make his life easier and reduce the risk of flare-ups of his existing health conditions.

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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 no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

6. Mr X complained the Council refused Mr Y’s Blue Badge application and appeal.
7. In response to our enquiries, the Council said it had now approved the application and issued Mr Y with a Blue Badge.
8. We will not investigate this complaint because the Council has now issued Mr Y with a Blue Badge and further investigation would unlikely lead to a different outcome.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate this complaint because further investigation would unlikely lead to a different outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman