Transport for London (24 013 300)
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about an unsuccessful application for a grant from the scrappage scheme. This is because the Authority has offered a fair remedy.
The complaint
- The complainant, Mr X, disagrees with the Authority’s decision not to award a grant for a new van from the scrappage scheme. He wants the Authority to award a grant.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. In this statement, I have used the word fault to refer to these. We provide a free service but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start an investigation if we are satisfied with the actions an organisation has taken or proposes to take. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(7), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Mr X and the Authority. This includes correspondence about the application and the supporting evidence submitted by Mr X. I also considered our Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X applied for a grant from the scrappage scheme. The Authority rejected the application on the grounds that he had not provided all the required evidence, including evidence of business vehicle insurance.
- In response to my enquiries, which questioned the status of insurance certificate Mr X had submitted, the Authority looked again at the case and decided it can award a grant.
- The Authority will contact Mr X to confirm the award and next steps. It will also review its handling of the application and consider if there are grounds to pay compensation. The Authority will tell Mr X the outcome of the review.
- I will not start an investigation because the Authority has offered a satisfactory remedy by approving the application and offering a review which will include whether it should award compensation. This is a fair and proportionate outcome which means we do not need to start an investigation.
Final decision
- We will not investigate this complaint because the Authority has agreed a satisfactory remedy.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman