Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s parking permit waitlist. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault to warrant our involvement.

The complaint

1. Ms X complained the Council implemented a waiting list for a parking permit. She said she has not moved position for 9 weeks and signed up for the wait list four hours after the council implemented it.
2. She said not having a parking permit impacts her life due to her work and personal circumstances. She wants the Council to provide her an expedited discretionary parking permit and consider her personal circumstances.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. 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, 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

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. In its response to Ms X’s complaint the Council explained how its waitlist worked and why there had been no movement due to no turnover in the zone. It said it can only offer permits when others are cancelled or surrendered. It also said it considered equality impacts at the point when the scheme was designed, and this included residents with protected characteristics. The Council said it could not make an exception for Ms X and offer her a parking permit before one became available.
7. During my enquiries the Council explained there are certain exception circumstances which it does consider, but Ms X did not meet the criteria. It said in these cases it would advise residents to apply for a Blue Badge, as Blue Badge holders would not require a permit for the zone.
8. We will not investigate this complaint. The Council clearly explained how the waitlist worked to Miss X and why it could not offer her a parking permit at that time. There is not enough evidence of fault to warrant our involvement.
9. In addition, the Council confirmed it offered Ms X a permit in June and Miss X received it in early July. Therefore, further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

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Final decision

10. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to warrant our involvement.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman