Hertsmere Borough Council (24 015 764)
Category : Transport and highways > Traffic management
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 27 Jan 2025
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about parking in the complainant’s street. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.
The complaint
- The complainant, Mr X, is unhappy with the Council’s response after he reported parking problems in his street.
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 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 provided by Mr X. This includes the complaint replies. I also considered our Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X contacted the Council to complain about the way people park in his street. Mr X has highlighted grass verge parking and that some households take up a lot of the communal on-street parking because they have many cars.
- In response the Council explained that grass verge parking is not prohibited and there are no parking restrictions in the street. The Council said it cannot take any enforcement action due to the absence of parking restrictions and it has decided that it is not necessary to introduce any restrictions.
- I appreciate Mr X is dissatisfied with the Council’s response but I will not start an investigation because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council. The Council explained why it cannot take any action and said it does not think any restrictions are needed. Mr X may disagree but that does not mean the Council has done anything wrong.
- Mr X could contact his local councillors and campaign for restrictions to be added. But it would be for the Council to decide whether to make any changes and to assess whether the majority of residents share Mr X’s views.
Final decision
- We will not investigate this complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman