Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council’s consultation process relating to proposals to introduce a controlled parking zone has been flawed. This is because the Council has not yet finished its consultation process and as such, no decision has been made in relation to the proposals. Any injustice to the complainant therefore is, at this stage, speculative.

The complaint

1. The complainant (Mr Q) complains on behalf of a group of local residents and businesses about the Council’s proposal to introduce a “controlled parking zone” in its area. Specifically, Mr Q alleges the Council’s consultation process was subject to fault which has and will lead to flawed decision making in relation to the CPZ proposals.
2. In summary, Mr Q says that if the CPZ is implemented it will cause great inconvenience to local residents and businesses as well as unnecessary costs. As a desired outcome, he wants the Council to drop the CPZ proposals.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. 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 fault has not caused injustice to the person who complained; or any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B)).

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council. I also considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. The Council started a public consultation over the CPZ proposals and reported the result of this in late December 2024. Having considered the responses to the consultation, the Council decided to revise the proposals to reduce the operational hours of the CPZ, as well as to commence a further consultation on the revised proposals. On this basis, the Council is yet to make any decision about the proposals to introduce a CPZ which is subject to further consultation. While I recognise the Mr Q says the Council’s initial consultation process has been flawed, any injustice as this stage is speculative as it has not resulted in any key decision being made over the proposals.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate this complaint. This is because the restrictions I outline at paragraph three (above) applies for the reasons given.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman