Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about school transport because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains about the Council’s decision to refuse his application and appeal for home to school transport for his children.

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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 we 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)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. I have carefully considered everything Mr X said, although I have not included every detail here. I have included as few details as possible to protect the anonymity of Mr X and his children.
6. The law says councils must provide transport for eligible children to the nearest suitable school.
7. The Council refused Mr X’s application because his children do not attend the nearest suitable school.
8. Mr X does not consider the walking route to the nearest school to be safe. He says the school he chose is only a third of a mile further away.
9. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation.

Final decision

10. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman