Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the advice provided by the Council’s pest control service. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation.

The complaint

1. Mr B complains about advice provided by the Council’s pest control service about a wasp issue at his home. Mr B says the officer advised him to fill in some holes in the wall of his house with cement and this would resolve the problem. Mr B says he paid a private contractor £100 to do this work, but the wasp problem remains. Mr B would like the Council to reimburse the £100 he spent on work which has not solved the problem.

Back to top

The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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 an investigation if we decide there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by Mr B.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

Back to top

My assessment

5. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation into this complaint. The information indicates the Council’s advice was based on where officers saw wasps and this advice was given in good faith. It is not always straightforward to tackle pest problems and several approaches may be needed. So, the Council was not at fault for refusing Mr B’s request for compensation.

Back to top

Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mr B’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman