Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to remove an abandoned vehicle. The claimed injustice is not significant to warrant our involvement.

The complaint

1. Ms X complained about the Council’s decision to not remove a vehicle which she believes has been abandoned.
2. Ms X said the vehicle has been left in a parking space intended for residents, meaning the number of available parking spaces is lower.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. 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 injustice is not 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

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

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My assessment

6. Ms X complained about the Council’s refusal remove a vehicle which she believes meets the criteria of being abandoned. Ms X said the vehicle has been left for a long period of time and should be classed as abandoned and removed.
7. The Council said it will not overturn its decision not to remove it because it believes the vehicle to be in an acceptable condition.
8. While I acknowledge Ms X’s frustration around the matter, I do not consider it has caused Ms X a significant injustice that would warrant an Ombudsman investigation. Because of this, we will not investigate this complaint.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because the claimed injustice is not significant enough to warrant our involvement.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman