Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about how the Council dealt with parking issues on her road. This is because we would not achieve a worthwhile outcome by doing so.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains the Council has failed to deal with parking issues on her street which are connected to a business the Council gave planning permission for some years ago.
2. She says this is causing serious safety concerns and leading her to have to park in places which have resulted in her receiving penalty charge notices. She would like the Council to review the planning permissions in place as she says they are being breached.

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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 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. Ms X complained to the Council as vehicles are being parked on her street which restrict access to and from her home. She pointed out the way vehicles are being parked means there are serious safety issues as a fire engine would not be able to pass and there is only one entrance to her street.
7. The Council explained that while it approved the planning for the business the parking issues relate to, it is not the Local Highways Authority.
8. It has confirmed that it raised the issues with the Local Highways Authority on Ms X’s behalf who confirmed it has a Civic Enforcement Officer patrolling the area regularly and issuing penalty charge notices where possible.
9. The Council has confirmed the parking spaces the business has are in accordance with the planning permission it approved, but it does not control how people park. This is for the Local Highways Authority. It has explained Ms X can contact that authority directly, or contact the police if vehicles are parked dangerously.

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Final decision

10. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because we would not achieve a worthwhile outcome by doing so.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman