The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s interaction with a Councillor. This is because there is no significant injustice that would justify our involvement.
The complaint
Miss Y complained about how the Council interacted with a Councillor and she said its actions were unfair.
Miss Y said she the Council should listen to hers and other resident’s concerns.
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 Miss Y.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Miss Y complained to the Council about its interactions with a Councillor following a media article.
The Council informed Miss Y that it would not consider her complaint because it had no involvement over the matter she raised with it.
We will not investigate Miss Y’s complaint because there is no significant injustice. We will not normally investigate a complaint unless there is good reason to believe that the complainant has suffered significant personal injustice as a direct result of the actions or inactions of the Council. To satisfy this threshold we would need to be satisfied a person has suffered serious loss, or harm, or distress directly because of the Council’s actions.
Additionally, Miss Y appears to be using her enquiry as a way of raising a wider political or community campaign. In this case her concerns may be better addressed to their local councillor or MP rather than the Ombudsman.
Final decision
We will not investigate Miss Y’s complaint because there is no significant injustice.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman