Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a fixed penalty notice as it has been cancelled by the Council.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains about a fixed penalty notice (FPN) the Council issued to him for littering. Mr X says he was not responsible and asks for the notice to be cancelled.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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 we could not add to any previous investigation by the organisation (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

5. The Council has told me that it cancelled the FPN. We will not investigate as this is the outcome Mr X sought, and we cannot add to this.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because the Council has cancelled the FPN and we cannot add to this.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman