London Borough of Hackney (25 014 088)
Category : Children's care services > Disabled children
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 03 Mar 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate Ms M’s complaint about her unsuccessful Blue Badge application because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation. We cannot achieve the outcome Ms M wants.
The complaint
- Ms M complains the Council refused her application to renew her son’s Blue Badge.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- 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
- we cannot achieve the outcome someone wants, or
- there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation.
(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Ms M applied to renew her son’s Blue Badge. Her application and appeal were unsuccessful. Unhappy with the outcome, Ms M complained to us. She says her son has had a Blue Badge before, and nothing has changed since her previous application.
- We do not decide whether Ms M’s son is eligible for a Blue Badge. This is the Councill’s job. Our role is to check the Council made its decision properly. We check the Council took account of Government guidance and considered all relevant evidence. We cannot question decisions taken without fault, no matter how strongly Ms M disagrees.
- The Council sent me the papers from Ms M’s application and appeal. I have not included the details here to ensure Ms M’s anonymity.
- Ms M’s appeal was considered by a Senior Occupational Therapist (OT). I can see from the papers the OT considered all the evidence.
- There is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation by us. We cannot achieve the outcome Ms M wants. There is, therefore, no worthwhile outcome achievable.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Ms M’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation, and we cannot achieve the outcome Ms M wants.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman