The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to refuse her child a Blue Badge. The Council has since reversed its decision and issued a Blue Badge. Further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
The complaint
Miss X complains about the Council’s decision to refuse her applications for a Blue Badge and Disabled Persons Freedom Pass.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
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, or we could not add to any previous investigation by the organisation, or further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Miss X’s son has special educational needs. In early 2024 the Council refused Miss X’s application for a Blue Badge for her son and Miss X complained. The Council reviewed the case and accepted it had not considered all the information in making its original decision. It apologised, reversed its decision and issued her son a Blue Badge.
The Council also said it would not issue a Freedom Pass as these were for passengers of fare paying age. It said Miss X’s son could already travel for free on London transport so did not need the pass.
We will not investigate this complaint. The Council considered Miss X’s complaint, accepted it had made a mistake and has now issued a Blue Badge. Any investigation by us would not add to the Council’s or lead to a different outcome.
The Council was entitled to refuse the application for a Freedom Pass as Miss X’s son is already entitled to free travel on London transport. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify further investigation.
Final decision
We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault and we could not add to the Council’s investigation. Further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman