on the lessons that can be learnt from our complaints about end of life care given in care homes and in the home.
Category : Other Categories > Councillor conduct and standards Decision : Closed after initial enquiries Decision date : 10 Mar 2026 The complaint
My assessment
Final decision
The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate the Council’s response to Mr X’s councillor conduct complaint as it is unlikely we will find fault by the Council.
The complaint
Mr X is unhappy that the Council has taken no further action in response to his complaint to it about a councillor, that Mr X said had been rude to him. Mr X says he is left feeling negatively toward the Council and he would like an apology.
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 there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B)) We consider whether there was fault in the way an organisation made its decision. If there was no fault in how the organisation made its decision, we cannot question the outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 34(3), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
The Council considered Mr X’s complaint and decided the conduct in question did not amount to a breach of its code of conduct and that as such, it would take no further action on it.
I have considered the Council’s handling of the complaint, having regard to its published councillor conduct complaint procedure, and we will not investigate as it is unlikely we will find fault by the Council. The Council made a decision it is entitled to and in the absence of fault in its consideration, we cannot question the merits of this decision.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is unlikely we will find fault by the Council.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman