Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about payment for car parking and the ability to purchase permits in advance. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. The injustice Mr X claims is not significant enough to warrant investigation.

The complaint

1. The complainant, Mr X, complains that by contracting out the processing of payments for parking at council car parks, he can no longer purchase a week-long parking permit over the phone in advance of his holiday. He says that as a result he would have to alter his usual arrangements and may have to park further away and catch a bus. He feels he cannot go on holiday without having arranged parking in advance.

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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 X and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. We do not investigate all the complaints we receive. In deciding whether to investigate we need to consider various tests. These include the alleged injustice to the person complaining. We only investigate the most serious complaints.
6. I appreciate Mr X is concerned about the parking situation but this is a consideration for anyone looking to go on holiday in a vehicle. The injustice of having to catch a bus to travel between holiday accommodation and Mr X’s preferred car park is not significant enough for us to investigate.
7. There is no absolute right for holidaymakers to be able to purchase longer-stay parking permits in advance and there are plenty of options for Mr X in terms of parking in the area. Privately run car parks offer week-long season tickets and Mr X may wish to look at alternative accommodation which has on-site parking or car-parks nearby.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate this complaint. This is because the injustice Mr X claims is not significant enough to warrant investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman