Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about refuse collections. This is because further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council do not return his bins to the boundary of his property after collections. Mr X says he has health conditions which make it difficult for him to get the bins.

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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 further investigation would not lead to a different outcome (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B)).

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

5. Mr X complains the Council are not returning his bins to the boundary of his property in line with their policy. The Council apologised and committed to ongoing monitoring. The Council say there have been no further reports of the bins not being returned to the boundary.
6. I will not investigate this matter as further investigation is unlikely to lead to a different outcome.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because further investigation would be unlikely to result in a different outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman