The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the complainants stay at a Council run caravan site. This is because it is unlikely we could add to the Council’s previous investigation.
The complaint
The complainant, who I will call Mr X, complains about his stay at a Council run caravan park. He says the plot he was given was inappropriate leading to his caravan becoming stuck in the mud. He says when he left, he was given no assistance to move his caravan. Mr X says as a result his caravan was left covered in mud.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
The Ombudsman investigates 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 may decide not to continue with an investigation if we decide we could not add to any previous investigation by the organisation. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
During its investigation into Mr X’s complaint, the Council spoke to staff at the caravan site who said that Mr X was allocated to an all-weather pitch which includes plastic matting to protect vehicles from mud, and that staff were in the process of obtaining a tractor to assist Mr X from moving his vehicle. However, Mr X decided to make his own arrangements to leave.
Mr X disputes these versions of events. He says that the pitch was not appropriate, it did not include plastic matting and that he was not offered any assistance moving his vehicle.
I will not investigate Mr X’s complaint. This is because it is unlikely any further investigation would add to the Council’s previous investigation. The Council has spoken to the staff involved and their recollections as to what happened and what was said differ significantly to Mr X’s recollection. I could not reconcile the conflicting views as I was not privy to the events and conversations.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because we could not add to the Council’s previous investigation.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman