Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Miss X’s request for a residents parking scheme. This is because further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

The complaint

1. Miss X complains the Council wrongly rejected her request for a residents parking scheme. She says she is unable to park near her home as there are parking restrictions in place which cause stress and inconvenience. Miss X wants the Council to reconsider her request or provide an alternative solution.

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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 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:

• further investigation would not lead to a different outcome

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

5. Miss X asked the Council to consider a residents parking scheme where she lives. The Council rejected the application because of double yellow lines on the street. Miss X complained. She said the road had a single yellow line, not a double.
6. In its complaint response, the Council acknowledged its error and apologised to Miss X, but said its decision remained unchanged. It explained that requests for residents parking schemes were considered by its Parking Services, Traffic Engineers, and Complaints Officers. It said it had discussed Miss X’s request but decided the removal of the existing parking restrictions would compromise road safety and traffic management. It said it could not identify any other solutions.
7. We will not investigate this complaint. The Council considered Miss X’s request in line with its process and explained why a residents parking scheme would not be viable. In addition, the Council are not obliged to provide parking to residents. Further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman