Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to investigate Mr X’s concerns. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council failed to resolve issues he brought to its attention. The issues include safeguarding matters and reports he has made to the police. Mr X says this has led to him feeling anxious and mistrusting the Council. Mr X wants the Council to respond to his concerns.

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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 fault has not caused injustice to the person who complained, or
• any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement, or
• we could not add to any previous investigation by the organisation, or
• further investigation would not lead to a different outcome, or
• we cannot achieve the outcome someone wants, or
• there is another body better placed to consider this complaint, or
• it would be reasonable for the person to ask for a council review or appeal; or
• there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation.

(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 the complainant including the Council’s response to his complaint.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Mr X says he has contacted the Council and other organisations to report several issues. In his complaint to us he said the Council had failed to resolve issues it he had made it aware of.
6. The Council wrote to Mr X in October 2025. It said it had received a letter he sent in September. The Council confirmed it had communication plan in place with
   Mr X. The plan ensured the agreed point of contact at the Council could review any information from Mr X to see if it needed investigating. On the occasion it chose not to investigate. The Council reminded Mr X how he could direct any concerns to the point of contact in future.
7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint as there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. Mr X can contact the Council via the agreed route. It is up to the Council to decide whether his concerns reach the threshold for an investigation.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman