The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about parking and other matters as the complainant is not caused a level of injustice that would justify our further involvement.
The complaint
Mr X complains about the Council’s response to his complaints: that a neighbour’s parking amounts to trespass as items attached to the vehicle overhang his hard standing, about a boundary fence which he says poses a danger to children, that a vehicle parked on Council land encroached into his hedge, about an unanswered query about land ownership, and that wheelchair users are unable to use lowered kerbs in his road as people park their cars across them Mr X says he has been caused trouble by these problems and is unhappy that the Council hasn’t assisted or in some cases, responded.
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 any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Mr X’s complaints a) and c) are matters between him and the drivers concerned, that is, civil matters, not matters for the Council While I recognise Mr X may feel strongly about the other complaints, he is not caused a level of personal injustice from these that would warrant our further involvement. We have limited resources and must direct them to cases of serious personal injustice.
For these reasons, we will not investigate.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr X’s complaints because he is not caused a level of personal loss or harm from them that would justify our further involvement. Some of his complaints are also civil matters.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman