Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames (25 024 986)
Category : Transport and highways > Parking and other penalties
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 18 May 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s residential parking policy because there is insufficient evidence of fault.
The complaint
- Mr X complains about the Council’s residential parking permit scheme. Mr X complained about the number of parking permits a household can obtain (one per adult household member). Mr X complained that some households take a disproportionate amount of parking space and that he cannot utilise his parking permit as a result.
- Mr X said the matter caused him distress and frustration.
- Mr X wants the Council to limit the number of parking permits a household can obtain.
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))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- We will not investigate this complaint. Mr X’s complaints relate to the Council’s residential parking bay policy. Although Mr X feels the policy is unfair, there is insufficient evidence of fault in the policy to warrant an investigation by the Ombudsman.
- The Ombudsman is not an appeal body, and we do not have the authority to override policies enacted by councils. It is for the Council to decide the terms and conditions of its policy.
- In its complaint response the Council informed Mr X if he wanted the policy to be changed he could write to his councillor to request this. This would be the correct avenue for Mr X to obtain the outcome he seeks.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman