The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s response to Mr X’s reports to it of a highway obstruction as Mr X is not caused a level of personal injustice from this to justify our further involvement.
The complaint
Mr X complained the Council did not provide him with details of its procedure or a timeline for action after he reported a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) trailer that was causing an obstruction. Mr X says this caused him to lose faith in the Council.
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 alleged fault has not caused significant injustice to the person who complained (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 recognise Mr X was dissatisfied with how the Council responded to him, but this does not represent a level of personal injustice to him that would justify our further involvement. Mr X gives no details of being impacted personally by the HGV trailer.
We have limited resources and must direct them to the most serious cases. Our further action is not warranted in this case.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because he is not caused a level of personal injustice from it that would justify our further involvement.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman