Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Miss B’s unsuccessful application for a blue badge renewal for her daughter. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the council.

The complaint

1. Miss B is complaining about the Council refusing her daughter’s blue badge application.
2. Miss B says she is struggling daily, and she wants the council to reconsider its decision.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
4. 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 an investigation if we decide there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
5. We consider whether there was fault in the way an organisation made its decision. If there was no fault in how the organisation made its decision, we cannot question the outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 34(3), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

6. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
7. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

8. The council refused Miss B’s application stating her daughter did not meet the criteria. Miss B requested a review by the council which led to an appeal panel. The panel upheld its decision to refuse the application.
9. The Council considered Miss B’s daughter’s application in line with the relevant guidance and considered the evidence provided. It has set out its reasons why it does not consider her eligible for a blue badge. This included the Council saying why its decision on this application differed from a decision to grant a blue badge several years ago. There is not enough evidence of fault in how the Council considered Miss B’s blue badge application to justify our involvement.
10. I appreciate Miss B disagrees with the decision, but we will only investigate if there is fault in the way a council has reached a decision, and I have not seen enough evidence of fault to warrant us investigating.

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Final decision

11. We will not investigate Miss B’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