Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council charging to remove garden waste. Any fault by the Council has not caused Mr X a significant injustice.

The complaint

1. Mr X says the Council has introduced a separate bill for collection of garden waste. This costs him £42 per annum, and he is worried about further increases in the future. He also indicates he has experienced frustration in his dealings with the Council. He wants the Council to revert to including this cost as part of council tax.

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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 or continue an investigation if we decide any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

5. Mr X says the Council has introduced a separate charge that residents now have to pay for collection of their garden waste. Mr X says the Council previously included this in the council tax bill for the area.
6. Residents are entitled to choose not to pay this charge of £42 yearly and to instead place garden waste in their normal household waste. Mr X has not been caused a significant injustice by any fault in the Council’s actions and we cannot justify investigating this complaint.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate this complaint about the Council charging to remove garden waste. Any fault has not caused a significant injustice to Mr X.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman