Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s failure to collect waste bins due to industrial action. We have no jurisdiction to investigate matters which affect all or most people in the Council’s area.

The complaint

1. Miss X complains that the Council has failed to collect bins regularly due to industrial action. She says the Council appears to collect waste more regularly from wealthier parts of the city.

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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 Miss X.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Miss X’s bins have not been collected regularly due to industrial action – an action affecting all or most people in her area. We have no jurisdiction to investigate any matter that affects all or most people in the Council’s area. Therefore, I cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because the matter affects all or most people in the Council’s area.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman