Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about an increase in the Council’s parking permit charges. The injustice is not significant enough to warrant us investigating.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complains the Council did not invite all residents to take part in the parking permit consultation. She says the Council failed to provide clear details about planned price increases for parking permits and prices have increased by too much.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We consider 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 any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement. 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 Mrs X and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Mrs X said parking permit prices have increased by too much. As part of its parking strategy report the Council outlined the reasons for the price increase. The Council also put in measures to mitigate the financial impact of the increased prices, by having different ways to pay for the parking permit. This includes yearly, 6-monthly or monthly permits.
6. While I appreciate the cost of a parking permit has gone up, this is not a significant enough injustice to warrant an investigation.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of injustice to warrant us investigating.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman