The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint the Council did not take enforcement action after a car blocked Mr X’s driveway. That is because any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.
The complaint
Mr X complained the Council did not take enforcement action after a vehicle parked across his driveway.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
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 any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.
(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
The Council’s complaint response confirms a parking officer visited Mr X’s property shortly after he contacted it about the vehicle blocking his driveway. The Council said the vehicle was not present when the officer attended. We will not investigate this complaint further. That is because any injustice Mr X experienced is not enough to justify our involvement. In addition, there is insufficient evidence of fault in the Council’s actions.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman