The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the complainant was prevented from handing out material at a meeting. This is because any injustice is not significant enough to warrant investigation.
The complaint
Ms X complains that she was prevented from handing out material at a meeting, despite previously being told that she would be allowed. Ms X feels she has been discriminated against.
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 or continue an investigation if we decide any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
I note that Ms X was upset and says that the matter left her to feel shaken and with the view that she has been discriminated against due to her beliefs. However, we do not investigate every complaint, and having considered the facts of the case I do not consider that the injustice to Ms X caused either by her being prevented from handing out the material or by the conflicting information she was given by the Council is significant enough to warrant investigation. For that reason, I will not investigate Ms X’s complaint.
Final decision
We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because any injustice is not significant enough to justify investigation.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman