Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s this complaint about how the Council handled his application for a blue badge. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained the Council failed to properly consider his comments or physical difficulties when deciding to refuse his application for a blue badge.
2. Me X said this caused emotional distress and negatively affected his independence and quality of life. He wanted the Council to:
• reconsider his application;
• properly consider his mobility difficulties;
• if appropriate, approve his application; and
• improve its assessment process.

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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 applied for a blue badge. The Council arranged an assessment for Mr X, following which it refused his application. Mr X complained the Council failed to properly consider his physical difficulties or comments when it made its decision.
7. The Council responded to Mr X. It explained it had considered Mr X’s medical issues, mobility difficulties and comments when making its decision. It added it refused his application because despite these, he did not meet the eligibility threshold.
8. 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 you disagree with the decision the organisation made.
9. I have considered the steps the Council took to consider Mr X’s application for a blue badge, and the information it took account of when deciding to refuse his application. There is no fault in how it took the decision and I therefore cannot question whether that decision was right or wrong.

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Final decision

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

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman