Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to publish a statement of intent about an energy efficiency scheme as it is a voluntary scheme and there is no evidence of fault.

The complaint

1. Miss Y complains the Council has failed to publish a statement of intent about an energy efficiency scheme.
2. Miss Y says that as a result she has been unable to apply, meaning that she will remain cold and will experience health conditions.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. The Ombudsman investigates 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 may decide not to continue with 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))

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by Miss Y.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. We will not investigate this complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault. That is because the scheme is voluntary and the council is entitled to decide whether or not to take part in it.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Miss Y’s complaint because there is no evidence of fault by the Council.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman