Miss A complained that Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council (“the Council”) had granted her a parking permit on application but had then revoked it. Her property fronted 2 roads – Y Street and Z Road. The revocation had caused her upset and distress. She wanted the permit reinstated.
In undertaking enquiries, the Council confirmed that it had issued the permit in error. Miss A’s property did not hold a registered postal address for Y Street, being the relevant road included within a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) governing parking permits. The property’s official address was for Z Road. It had refunded Miss Y’s application fee. The Ombudsman did not investigate the complaint as he had no power to reinstate the permit as sought by Miss Y as he cannot change TROs. However, in recognition of the error in granting Miss Y the permit, so raising her expectation that she was entitled to it, the Ombudsman found maladministration. He sought the Council’s agreement to formally apologise to Miss Y for that error (within 20 working days). The complaint was settled on this basis as an alternative to an investigation.