Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the failure to arrange bin collections. The issues Ms C is complaining about affect all or most of the people in the local area.

The complaint

1. Ms C says the Council has failed to arrange bin collections for more than a month now. As a result, there is rubbish overflowing on the streets.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. 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

4. I considered information provided by Ms C.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Ms C is complaining about issues that affect all the people living in her local area because the industrial action which has caused this affects the whole Council area.
7. In any event, to mitigate the effect of strike action the Council has arranged eleven drop sites to which people can take their waste. We could not say it has failed to meet its general duty to arrange collection of household waste. (Environmental Protection Act 1990, section 45).

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Ms C’s complaint because the issues she is complaining about affect all or most of the people in the local area.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman