Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s communication or notification relating to its engagement with a self-advocacy group. It is unlikely we would find fault and there is no significant injustice.

The complaint

1. Ms X said the Council were at fault because it did not properly consider the timing or the way it communicated a late notice cancellation of a meeting with her, which included other group members. Ms X said the Council should have been more considerate about its approach, given the group comprised of individuals who were either autistic or had learning disabilities.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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, or
• any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement, or
• further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by Ms X and I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

4. Ms X said she was given a very short notice cancellation about a planned meeting with the Council, to discuss how it would engage with her self-advocacy group in the future. Ms X said this caused stress. Ms X also said she did not believe the Council’s reasons for why the cancellation was necessary.
5. Given the Council’s reply, I find it is unlikely we would find fault. In any case, we will not normally investigate a complaint where the alleged injustice is not a serious or significant matter and on my consideration of Ms X’s complaint, any injustice, is not significant enough to warrant an investigation.
6. I note the Council offered an apology for the cancellation at late notice and for the stress this action had caused. Consequently, further investigation would not lead to a different outcome here.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because it is unlikely we would find fault and there is no significant injustice.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman