Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council reduced its street cleaning services. This is because the matters complained about affect all or most of the Council’s residents, and the law says we cannot investigate.

The complaint

1. Ms X complained that the Council reduced its street cleaning services.
2. Ms X complained that residents live in an environment with extensive litter and this impacts their health wellbeing and sense of safety.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
4. We cannot investigate something that affects all or most of the people in a council’s area. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(7), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

7. Ms X complained that the Council reduced its street cleaning services and failed to provide an action plan to address the condition of the area.
8. The way the Council carries out street cleaning affects all or most people in the Council’s area. Consequently, the law says we cannot investigate.

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Final decision

9. We cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint because the matter complained about affects all or most of the people in the Council’s area.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman