London Borough of Tower Hamlets (23 008 485)
Category : Environment and regulation > Other
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 20 Mar 2024
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint the Council are not street cleaning properly. Any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.
The complaint
- Mr X complained the Council was not cleaning the streets in his local area properly. He said the streets were dirty and unpleasant to walk in. He wants the Council to ensure the streets are regularly cleaned.
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:
- any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement, or
- further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
(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
- Our role is to consider complaints where the person bringing the complaint has suffered significant personal injustice as a direct result of the actions or inactions of the organisation. This means we will normally only investigate a complaint where the complainant has suffered serious loss, harm, or distress as a direct result of faults or failures. We will not normally investigate a complaint where the alleged loss or injustice is not a serious or significant matter.
- I appreciate Mr X finds walking in dirty streets unpleasant, however, we would not consider this a significant enough injustice to justify out involvement. Therefore, we will not investigate this complaint.
- In addition, in the Council’s final complaint response it has offered to meet with Mr X and complete a walk around of his local area to discuss his concerns. It has also said it will monitor the area for cleanliness. Further investigation by the Ombudsman will not lead to a different outcome.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman