The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the delay in responding to a complaint that a councillor breached the code of conduct. The Council has now concluded the complaints process and we consider that further investigation will not lead to a different outcome.
The complaint
Mrs X complains the Council failed to consider her complaint that a councillor breached the code of conduct.
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.
My assessment
In response to my enquiries, the Council confirms it has now completed its investigation into the complaint about the councillor. The outcome of the investigation has been published on the Council’s website.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because the Council has investigated the complaint about the councillor and published its decision online. We consider further investigation will not lead to a different outcome.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman