The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to relocate a children’s play area. This is because the complainant has not suffered a significant injustice.
The complaint
Mr X says the Council has not taken his view into account when it decided where to relocate a children’s play area. Mr X says this location is close to the back of his house and he will be affected by noise and be overlooked.
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 any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Mr X says the Council spoke to him about its plans to relocate a children’s play area on recreational land it owned and decided on a location that Mr X says is not suitable.
The Council has provided plans about where the play area will be relocated to and this location is similarly positioned in relation to Mr X’s house. The Council’s decision has not caused him a significant injustice.
Final decision
We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to relocate a children’s play area. This is because the complainant has not suffered a significant injustice.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman