Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint that the Council is wasting public money defending parking penalty charge notices it issues at a misleadingly named car park as this impacts all or most of the residents in the Council’s area and is therefore outside our remit.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains motorists are being issued with parking penalty charge notices (PCNs) after making innocent mistakes by parking at a misleadingly named/signed Council car park. Mr X complains the Council is wasting public money defending PCNs issued at the location and that it refuses to consider renaming the car park.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. We cannot investigate something that affects all or most of the people in a council’s area. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(7), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

6. Mr X says the matter he complains about impacts taxpayers in his local area as the Council is wasting public money. We cannot investigate because as per paragraph three, such matters are not within our legal remit.

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Final decision

7. We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint because it impacts all or most of the people in the Council’s area and so is not within our remit.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman