Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a data request. The Information Commissioners Office is better placed to consider this complaint.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained that the Council did not provide him with a report he requested.
2. Mr X said he is concerned about the Councils environmental protection services.
3. Mr X wants the Council to provide him with a copy of the report.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

4. 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 another body better placed to consider this complaint(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
5. The Information Commissioner's Office considers complaints about freedom of information. Its decision notices may be appealed to the First Tier Tribunal (Information Rights). So where we receive complaints about freedom of information, we normally consider it reasonable to expect the person to refer the matter to the Information Commissioner.

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How I considered this complaint

6. I considered information provided by the complainant.
7. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

8. In October 2018 a fire started on an industrial estate. Mr X contacted the Council to request information about the fire. He then raised a complaint to the Information Commissioners Office.
9. In 2025 Mr X complained that there were discrepancies in the information that was provided. The Council investigated and said it did not hold the report that Mr X was asking for.
10. As this is a matter about data handling and information requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Information Commissioner would be better placed to consider Mr X’s complaint.
11. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint as the Information Commissioners Office is better placed to consider the matter.

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Final decision

12. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is another body better placed to consider this complaint.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman