Test Valley Borough Council (25 016 033)
Category : Environment and regulation > Antisocial behaviour
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 27 Feb 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of reports of abandoned vehicles. This is because the claimed injustice is not significant enough to warrant our involvement.
The complaint
- Mr X complains about the Council has failed to enforce its statutory powers to remove vehicles parked on the public highway. He says the vehicles are unroadworthy.
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 effect 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 the tests set out in our Assessment Code are not met. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)
- We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X complained about the Council’s refusal to remove vehicles which he says have been left for a long time, are not roadworthy and should be treated as abandoned.
- Mr X reported a vehicle on his road to the Council in March 2025. The Council considered the report and decided the vehicle was not abandoned. Mr X also reported another vehicle, which the Council decided was not abandoned.
- While I acknowledge Mr X’s frustration around the matter, I do not consider it has caused Mr X a significant injustice that would warrant an Ombudsman investigation. Because of this, we will not investigate this complaint.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because the claimed injustice is not significant enough to warrant our involvement.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman