The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a streetlight. This is because there is not significant enough injustice to justify our involvement.
The complaint
Mr Y complained the Authority has failed to replace a streetlight which has become rusty, despite it agreeing it would do so in March 2022.
Mr Y says he is concerned about the safety of his children and has been frustrated.
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 Mr Y provided and the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Mr Y complained to the Authority about the streetlight in September 2021 after being referred by his local council. The Authority told Mr Y it would replace the streetlight in March 2022.
Mr Y chased and complained to the Authority for the light to be replaced several times after it was not replaced. The Authority explained that the electricity for the light needed to be disconnected before the post was changed and said the work would be completed shortly in May. To date this has not been completed, so Mr Y approached us in summer 2022.
Analysis There has been no injury to anyone from the light being rusty and while chasing the Authority to act and respond to him has caused Mr Y some frustration, this is not significant enough to justify our involvement in this complaint. Consequently, we will not investigate.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr Y’s complaint because there is not significant enough injustice to justify our involvement.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman