Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of a request for new road markings. This is because there is not enough evidence of significant injustice and an investigation by us would not lead to a different outcome.

The complaint

1. Miss X applied for a dropped kerb which the Council approved. Miss X had the dropped kerb installed however, she said parked cars obstructed her access to the new driveway. Miss X asked the Council for road markings to deter road users from blocking access to her driveway. Miss X says the Council did not paint the markings in a timely manner.

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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:

• any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement, or
• 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 for the road markings to be installed. There was a delay in the Council arranging payment and Miss X contacted the Council on several occasions. Miss X paid for the road markings in September 2025.
6. In November 2025, Miss X complained to the Council as the road markings were still not painted. The Council apologised for the delay with payment, advised Miss X of the timeframe for the road markings and told her how to report cars that were parked blocking her driveway.
7. The evidence shows the Council has since completed the road markings. Although this work was delayed, any injustice is not significant enough to warrant the Ombudsman’s involvement. In any case, an investigation by us would not lead to a different outcome. We will therefore not investigate this complaint.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of significant injustice and an investigation by us would not lead to a different outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman