Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council removing limited term parking bays, because there is insufficient evidence of fault.

The complaint

1. Miss X complains the Council removed limited term parking bays which has impacted on her business, particularly for customers with mobility issues. She wants the Council to reinstate the parking bays or offer alternative short stay parking bays.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

5. Miss X says her customers have complained about the removal of limited term parking bays. She says this has impacted on her business and she complained to the Council.
6. The Council says it removed the parking bays due to access concerns relating to heavy goods vehicle deliveries to another business. It followed the correct process and carried out consultation, advertised in the press and put up signage as part of the Traffic Regulation Order, and there were no objections.
7. I will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s decision making to justify our involvement.

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Final decision

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

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman