Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council not addressing the complainant’s concerns about a parking issue. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. The complainant has not been caused injustice that warrants our involvement.

The complaint

1. The complainant, who I refer to here as Mr B, has complained the Council has not responded to concerns he raised about a landowner preventing parking on a grass verge. The verge is close to a walking route. Mr B says he parked on the verge about ten times since 2010.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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 may decide not to start an investigation if the tests set out in our Assessment Code are not met. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by Mr B which included his correspondence with the Council. I also considered our Assessment Code.

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Final decision

We will not investigate Mr B’s complaint. While the Council may not have resolved Mr B’s concerns to his satisfaction, any delay or other fault there may have been has not caused him injustice that warrants our involvement.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman