Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council (25 023 844)
Category : Children's care services > Disabled children
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 30 Jun 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Blue Badge awards. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.
The complaint
- Mrs X complains the Council has not renewed her child’s Blue Badge award.
- She says without a badge they have to limit journeys to keep her child safe. She says her child has experienced social isolation as a result and travelling to school is dangerous.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- 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)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- I have made detailed enquiries with the Council. The Council’s response to our enquiries and its appeal decision shows it considered the evidence provided by Mrs X and the national guidance when reaching its decision and provided a reasoned explanation for its decision.
- Our role is not to ask whether an organisation could have done things better, or whether we agree or disagree with what it did. Instead, we look at whether there was fault in how it made its decisions. If we decide there was no fault in how it did so, we cannot ask whether it should have made a particular decision or say it should have reached a different outcome.
- Since the Council has properly considered the evidence provided, it was entitled to use its professional judgement to decide to refuse to issue a Blue Badge and the Ombudsman cannot question this decision unless it was tainted by fault. As the Council properly considered the application, there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.
- The Council’s correspondence states that Mrs X can reapply within 6 months. If she has not done so already, this option remains available to her.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman