The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about parking permit prices because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.
The complaint
Mr Y complained the Council increased the price of a residential parking permit from £119 to £399 annually because he owns a diesel car.
Mr Y says the increase is disproportionate and unfair when the green infrastructure is currently underdeveloped in the area in his view.
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. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
I considered information Mr Y and the Council provided and the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
The Council decided in October 2024 to introduce a new charging structure for parking permits. Parking permit prices would, under the new charging structure, be determined by the type of vehicle and its level of emissions. As a result, Mr Y, who owns a diesel vehicle, when he came to get a new parking permit the charge had increased to £399. Mr Y complained to the Council about this, who explained the change. As Mr Y remained dissatisfied with this, so he approached us.
The Council has made its charging structure available on its website. It also provides different methods of payment, monthly, six-monthly and annually to help spread the cost of permits for residents. Mr Y has the choice to buy a permit if he wishes, using any of there payment patterns. As the charges are in line with the Council’s policy for parking permits and this has been applied to give Mr Y the price for his vehicle, there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. We will not investigate.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr Y’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman