Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about missed refuse collections. This is because the issue stems from industrial strike action by the Council’s refuse collection crews and is a matter which affects all or most of the people in the Council’s area.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council has failed to collect his recycling. He is unhappy that he has paid for the service and is not receiving it. He wants the Council to freeze his council tax payments or pay him compensation.

Back to top

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)

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

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

Back to top

My assessment

5. The Council’s refuse collection crews began industrial strike action in a dispute over changes to roles and pay in early 2025. This resulted in missed collections for a large proportion of the council’s residents and a backlog of reports which the Council has so far been unable to clear. Residents from across the city have reported rubbish building up locally with bins overflowing, rubbish on the streets, unpleasant odours and vermin.
6. While I appreciate Mr X is unhappy that his bins have not been emptied and that he has not received a service he funds through his council tax payments, he is affected by these issues in the same way as ‘all or most’ of the residents in the Council’s area. The exclusion set out at Paragraph 3 therefore applies.

Back to top

Final decision

7. We cannot investigate this complaint. This is because it is about an issue which affects all or most of the people in the Council’s area.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman