The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to investigate Mr X’s safeguarding complaints. This is because there is insufficient personal injustice to Mr X to warrant an investigation.
The complaint
Mr X complained the Council refused to investigate his safeguarding complaints regarding a local event.
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 Mr X and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Mr X complained to the Council about an event taking place at his local library which he believed posed a risk of harm to children in the area.
The Council apologised for the use of unprofessional language in its correspondence with Mr X but ultimately did not uphold his complaints. The Council investigated but decided to take no further action.
Mr X wants us to find the Council at fault. The Council has investigated and determined there is no evidence children have been caused or at risk of being caused harm. There is no evidence of fault in the Council’s decision making. There is no evidence that this matter has caused a significant personal injustice to Mr X. The Ombudsman does not investigate complaints where the complainant has not sustained a significant personal injustice.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is insufficient personal injustice to Mr X to warrant an investigation.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman