Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to refuse his blue badge application. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained the Council failed to properly consider his medical conditions when deciding to refuse his application for a blue badge.
2. Mr X said this negatively impacted his independence and caused emotional distress. He wanted the Council to:
• approve his application for a blue badge;
• improve its application process; and
• improve its timeliness.

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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 not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. (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.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Mr X complained the Council refused his blue badge application without considering the severity of his medical conditions.
7. The Council responded to Mr X. It explained when making its decision it considered Mr X’s confirmed medical diagnoses. It confirmed the diagnoses were supported by medical evidence from medical professionals.
8. It explained despite its consideration of Mr X’s medical conditions, his application did not meet the criteria. Therefore, it would not issue him with a blue badge.
9. The Ombudsman is not an appeal body. This means we do not take a second look at a decision to decide if it was wrong. Instead, we look at the processes an organisation followed to make its decision. If we consider it followed those processes correctly, we cannot question whether the decision was right or wrong, regardless of whether an individual disagrees with the decision the organisation made.
10. In making its decision, the Council took account of the relevant criteria guidance from the Department for Transport, and medical information from Mr X. The Council followed the appropriate procedures when making this decision and I cannot therefore criticise it.
11. We will not investigate this complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.

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Final decision

12. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council to justify investigating.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman