Hampshire County Council (20 010 349)
Category : Transport and highways > Parking and other penalties
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 16 Feb 2021
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about a parking penalty as the Council has now cancelled it. We cannot add to this.
The complaint
- Mrs X complains about a parking penalty the Council issued to her and about it not properly considering her representations against it. Mrs X has been caused stress by this.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. In this statement, I have used the word ‘fault’ to refer to these. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start or continue with an investigation if we are satisfied with the actions a council has taken or proposes to take. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(7), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
- I have considered what Mrs X said in her complaint and I have sent her my draft decision on it for her comments.
What I found
- The Council issued Mrs X with a parking penalty. Mrs X says she was unaware of any parking restrictions where she had parked and that other cars parked had not been fined. Mrs X made representations against the penalty but says she did not hear back from the Council until it sent a letter telling her the penalty had increased due to non-payment.
- The Council says an error was made in the issuing of the parking penalty and it has now cancelled it.
Analysis
- The Council has cancelled the penalty and we cannot add to this. I do not therefore see grounds for us to investigate.
Final decision
- My decision is we will not investigate this complaint about a parking penalty as the Council has now cancelled it.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman