Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Penalty Charge Notices for alleged parking contraventions. It would be reasonable to expect Mr X to use the statutory representations and appeals procedure.

The complaint

1. Mr X says the Council has wrongly issued Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) and did not properly consider his representations about them.
2. Mr X said this caused distress, time and trouble.
3. Mr X wants the Council to apologise, repaint the lines on a parking bay and compensate him.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

4. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes limits on what we can investigate.
5. We cannot normally investigate a complaint when someone has a right of appeal, reference or review to a tribunal about the same matter. However, we may decide to investigate if we consider it would be unreasonable to expect the person to use this right. Local Government Act 1974, section 26(6)(a), as amended)
6. London Tribunals considers parking and moving traffic offence appeals for London.

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How I considered this complaint

7. I considered information from Mr X and the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate this complaint because it would be reasonable for Mr X to use the representations and appeals procedure.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman