The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to not issue her a Blue Badge. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s decision-making process to warrant an investigation.
The complaint
Mrs X complained about the Council’s decision to not issue her a Blue Badge. She said that the Council did not consider her health needs properly. Mrs X said that she has a medical need and believed she is eligible. She would like the Council to issue a blue badge.
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 how the organisation made its decision, we cannot question the outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 34(3), as amended) 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))
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by Mrs X and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Blue Badges help people with disabilities or health conditions park closer to their destination. The Department for Transport sets out how councils should consider applications for a Blue Badge. Some people automatically qualify for a Blue Badge. Other applicants may qualify after further assessment if they have an enduring and substantial disability that means they are unable to walk, or experience very considerable difficulty when walking.
Mrs X is not automatically eligible for a Blue Badge. She applied for a Blue Badge in Spring 2025. Within her application she set out her medical conditions she believed were relevant.
The Council asked her for more information, and a face-to-face assessment took place the following month. The assessment included a walking observation and consideration of Mrs X’s medical history. The Council decided that Mrs X did not meet the eligibility for a Blue Badge.
Mrs X appealed this decision in late Spring 2025. The Council responded to the appeal to confirm that their assessment had decided that Mrs X did not meet the eligibility criteria.
Although Mrs X is unhappy with the Council’s decision, we will not investigate. The Council considered all available information, including observations of Mrs X’s mobility, medical information and her application. There is not enough evidence of fault in how it considered the blue badge application to justify our involvement.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to warrant an investigation.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman