Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about parking charges as there is insufficient injustice caused to the complainant to warrant our further involvement.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complains the Council did not consult with residents when it increased a minimum parking charge from 30 pence to £1. Mrs X says she has changed where she shops as she refuses to pay the extra charge.

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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 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 any alleged fault has not caused injustice significant enough to justify our involvement (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. While I recognise Mrs X is unhappy at the charge increase, she is not caused a level of personal loss or harm that would justify our further involvement in this complaint. We have limited resources and must direct them to the most serious cases, in the public interest. We will not therefore investigate.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because the alleged Council fault has not caused a serious personal harm or loss to her, and our involvement is therefore not justified.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman