Tewkesbury Borough Council (19 010 699)
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about damage to the complainant’s fence. This is because the Council has taken remedial action to resolve the complaint.
The complaint
- In summary, the complainant, who I shall refer to as Miss X, complains of damage to her fence from vegetation and stones on the Council land adjoining her property.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. We provide a free service but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start or continue with an investigation if we believe it is unlikely we could add to any previous investigation by the Council or achieve a different outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
- I have considered the complaint information provided by Miss X. I read the Council’s response and spoke to Miss X.
What I found
- Miss X has been complaining to the Council since October 2018 of suffering damage to her property from the poorly maintained council land next to her.
- However, I have seen information showing the Council has now taken remedial action in removing the vegetation, stones plus replacing the base boards to her fence. I consider this remedies the complaint and the Ombudsman is unlikely to add anything more to the Council’s actions to date or achieve a different outcome.
Final decision
- The Ombudsman will not investigate as it is unlikely, we could add to any previous investigation or achieve a different outcome.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman