London Borough of Camden (25 018 025)
Category : Environment and regulation > Antisocial behaviour
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 14 Apr 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about an e-bike bay. An investigation is unlikely to achieve a different outcome for Mr X.
The complaint
- Mr X complains an e-bike bay near his home attracts anti-social behaviour and is hazardous for pedestrians. Mr X says the obstruction and anti-social behaviour makes him fear for his safety, and he does not feel the Council is doing enough about the bay. Mr X wants the Council to move the e-bike bay, and to communicate its intentions and timelines for action.
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 further investigation would not lead to a different outcome or we cannot achieve the outcome someone wants. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- The Council agrees the e-bike bay requires attention. The Council has marked the road as a high priority for extra monitoring. Mr X may not feel the Council is doing enough, but I am satisfied the Council has investigated Mr X’s concerns and come to a resolution it considers proportionate. In addition, the Council has offered Mr X a financial remedy for the time and trouble spent bringing his complaint. An investigation by the Ombudsman is unlikely to lead to a different outcome for Mr X.
- In any event, we could not tell the Council to move the e-bike bay, so we could not achieve the outcome Mr X seeks.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because an investigation is unlikely to lead to a different outcome, and we cannot achieve the outcome Mr X seeks.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman