The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision not to introduce a resident’s parking scheme in his area. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault affecting the decision.
The complaint
The complainant, Mr X, complains the Council’s Planning and Regulation Committee (the committee) rejected options for a resident’s parking scheme in Mr X’s area put forward by officers and supported by local councillors. He says the decision makes it difficult for residents to park near their homes.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
We investigate complaints of injustice caused by ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. I have used the word fault to refer to these. We consider whether there was fault in the way an organisation made its decision. If there was no fault in the decision making, we cannot question the outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 34(3), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
I appreciate Mr X disagrees with the Council’s decision and believes it is flawed as the committee decided not to implement one of the options proposed by officers. But the committee was entitled to make this decision and there is no evidence of fault in the way it was reached. We cannot therefore criticise it.
Final decision
We will not investigate this complaint. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman