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

The complaint

1. Ms X complained about the Council’s handling of her application for a parking permit. Ms X says she needs the parking permit for her disabled child and associated support network. Ms X says the situation is causing her stress and she feels she should have a parking 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 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))
3. We consider whether there was fault in the way an organisation made its decision. If there was no fault in how the organisation made its decision, we cannot question the outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 34(3), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

6. Ms X says she was unaware that the Council would not provide a parking permit when she moved into her current home. She feels it is unfair and discriminatory that other residents on the street can have permits.
7. Ms X has a disabled child and is issued with a Blue Badge. Carers take the Blue Badge when going out with her child meaning she must then move her car, often losing her parking space as a result. Ms X is unhappy with her allotted car parking space in a nearby car park and feels it unsuitable for their needs.
8. The Council responded to Ms X’s complaint and said:

• she was not eligible for a permit under the associated traffic regulation order for her property. This is a legal order which allows parking restrictions to be enforced.
• as Ms X’s property was on a new development within an existing permit parking scheme, it was not eligible to apply for permits.
• the provision available to Ms X is:
1. one off street parking space,
2. two visitor parking spaces,
3. unrestricted street parking nearby, and
4. availability of the shared parking scheme area without a permit every evening after 5:30pm and on Sundays.

9. While I recognise the inconvenience experienced by Ms X due not being eligible for a parking permit, there is not enough evidence of fault in the way the Council considered the permit application to justify further investigation.

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Final decision

10. We will not investigate Ms x’s complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman