Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council’s bin men are leaving the bins in unsuitable places after emptying them. This is because we do not consider he has suffered a significant personal injustice to warrant our involvement.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains that the Council’s bin men leave the bins in unsuitable or unsafe places after emptying them.
2. He also says that the bin men often make noise as they drag the bins back after emptying them.

Back to top

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))

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

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

Back to top

My assessment

6. Mr X complains that the Council’s bin men leave the bins in unsuitable or unsafe places after emptying them. He says the bins have been left in places like his driveway or directly in front of the front door and thereby blocking his access out of the property.
7. The Council have told Mr X that the bin men cannot leave his bin in a precise location and that they are required to leave the bins within a reasonable distance or location from the house after emptying them.
8. Therefore, there is not enough evidence the matter caused Mr X a significant injustice to warrant further investigation.

Back to top

Final decision

9. We will not investigate this complaint because we do not consider Mr X has suffered a significant personal injustice to warrant an investigation.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman