Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about @.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained about the Council’s waste collection service regarding speeding and accessing a weight restricted road. He also complained about the Council’s complaint handling.
2. Mr X said the matter caused him frustration and distress.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. 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:

• there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating, or
• there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation.

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

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaints. In its complaint responses, the Council:
• explained it checked the vehicle’s reading and found it was travelling under the speed limit for the road; and
• the road was weight restricted, but the restrictions allowed for access to vehicles to collect waste from households in the area.
7. There is insufficient evidence of fault in the Council’s actions to warrant an investigation into the Council’s actions. Therefore, we will not investigate this matter.
8. It is not a good use of public resources to investigate complaints about complaint procedures, if we are unable to deal with the substantive issue. Therefore, we will not investigate Mr X’s complaints about the complaint process.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate @’s complaint because @

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman