Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council not issuing her a parking permit. There is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

The complaint

1. Miss X complains the Council have refused to issue her a parking permit.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

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 there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B)).

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How I considered this complaint

2. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
3. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

4. Miss X applied for a parking permit which was refused by the Council. Miss X says she was not aware residents were ineligible for parking permits when she entered into her tenancy agreement and not being able to park impacts her ability to care for her elderly grandparents.
5. The Council say the property Miss X rents does not qualify for a resident parking permit. It explained the building was constructed under an agreement that occupants would not be eligible for permits due to limited parking in the area.
6. A tenant should ask their landlord about parking before taking up a tenancy. While I recognise the inconvenience experienced by Miss X due not being eligible for a parking permit, I have not seen evidence of fault in the way the Council considered the permit application or applied their policy.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman