Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s policy to charge a £21 delivery fee for replacement bins. The claimed injustice is not significant enough to warrant an investigation.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained about the Council’s policy to charge £21 for the delivery of replacement bins.
2. Mr X said the matter caused him time and trouble.

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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 any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement. (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 complaint about the Council’s policy to charge a £21 delivery fee for replacement household waste containers.
7. Mr X purchased a property in the Council’s area, but no bins were present. Mr X complained to the Council that he should not have to pay for the delivery of the bins and that the Council should allow him to collect the bins without charge. The Council declined Mr X’s request.
8. The delivery fee is modest; therefore, Mr X’s claimed injustice is not significant enough to warrant an investigation by the Ombudsman, and we will not investigate this complaint.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is insufficient injustice to warrant an investigation by the Ombudsman.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman