The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a failure to act on reports of anti-social behaviour. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. We consider further investigation is unlikely to lead to a different outcome.
The complaint
Mrs X complains the Council failed to act on her reports of anti-social behaviour by her neighbour. She wants the Council to move the neighbour.
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 further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by Mrs X and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because the neighbour has now moved. Further investigation is unlikely to lead to a different outcome.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman