Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council increasing parking charges contrary to an undertaking made by a political party before the 2022 elections. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained that the Council has increased parking charges for some drivers in its area even though the Leader of the Council’s political party gave a pledge to reduce parking charges before it was elected in 2022. He says the new charges leave some drivers having to pay increased charges for the vehicles they drive.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Ombudsman investigates 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 may decide not to continue with an investigation if we decide:

• there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating, or
• we cannot achieve the outcome someone wants.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A (6))

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

5. Mr X says the Leader of the Council gave a pledge before the 2022 elections that his party would reduce parking charges following an increase during the COVID-19 pandemic. The charges were reduced for a time but the Council decided in 2023 to introduce a new emission-based parking scheme which will result in some motorists with polluting cars paying more.
6. Mr X complained to the Council and it informed him that the proposed scheme meant similar or lower charges for most drivers and only increased ones for a minority. Mr X disputes this.
7. We do not investigate complaints about statements or actions of political parties made for election purposes. These statements are made by local politicians acting in a political sphere and not by the Council’s executive carrying out functions in an administrative role. Whether or not the political promises of a party have been honoured, the Council’s current parking charges were subject to statutory consultation and approved by the Council’s Cabinet which is the proper procedure for such policy decisions.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate this complaint about the Council increasing parking charges contrary to an undertaking made by a political party before the 2022 elections. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman