Summary: We will not investigate Mx X’s complaint about the actions taken by the Council when they failed to renew their parking permit in time. There is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation

The complaint

1. Mx X complains about the actions the Council took when they failed to renew their parking permit in time resulting in their car being removed from outside their property.
2. They say this caused them time and trouble, unnecessary costs, lost work and emotional distress. They want an apology and compensation.

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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
• there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation.

(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. Mx X did not renew their parking permit which led to the Council removing their vehicle from outside their property.
7. We will not investigate this complaint. It was Mx X’s responsibility to renew their parking permit in time. When they were left without a permit, the Council advised them to buy a daily visitor’s pass or park elsewhere until their permit was renewed. It was open to Mx X to do so. The Council was entitled to remove their vehicle which was parked without a valid permit.
8. As a goodwill gesture, the Council waived the removal and storage charges.
9. Therefore, there is no worthwhile achievable from investigating this complaint because any outstanding alleged injustice is not as a result of the Council’s actions.

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Final decision

10. We will not investigate Mx X’s complaint because there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman