Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s issue of a parking permit renewal reminder. This is because the Council has cancelled the penalty charge notices it issued Mr X for parking without a valid permit and it is unlikely we could achieve anything more for him.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council failed to issue him a reminder that his parking permit was due to expire. Mr X says he was unaware his permit had expired and carried on parking on the road. The Council therefore issued him several penalty charge notices (PCNs) for parking without a valid permit.

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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 do not start an investigation if we decide 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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Final decision

5. We will not investigate this complaint. This is because the Council has confirmed it issued Mr X a reminder, which it sent to the email address he provided when he first applied for a permit, and that it has now cancelled the PCNs. This provides a suitable remedy for the complaint and it is unlikely investigation would achieve anything more for him.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman