Newcastle upon Tyne City Council (25 027 253)
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 this complaint about the Council’s handling of a penalty charge notice. This is because the Council has agreed to cancel the penalty charge notice and further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
The complaint
- Mr X complained the Council incorrectly issued him a penalty charge notice (PCN) when he had a valid parking permit. He said the process had been stressful and he had wasted time appealing the PCN. He would like the Council to apologise and pay him compensation.
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 further investigation would not lead to a different outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X complained the Council issued him a PCN despite displaying his parking permit in his car.
- In its complaint response, the Council said it cancelled the PCN after Mr X appealed. The Council apologised for issuing the PCN in error, and for Mr X’s inconvenience of appealing the charge. It told Mr X it had reminded officers to look for Mr X’s parking permit.
- We will not investigate this complaint because further investigation would not lead to a different outcome. The Council cancelled the PCN when it had considered Mr X’s appeal. It also explained what steps it had taken to improve its processes.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman