Summary: We cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint about missed bin collections. The reason Miss X’s bin was not collected was because of industrial strike action which affects all or most of the Council’s residents, and the law says we cannot investigate.

The complaint

1. Miss X complained the Council failed to collect her household waste between January 2025 and June 2025. Miss X said the matter caused her frustration.

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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 the complainant.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. The missed refuse collections Miss X complained about occurred during industrial strike action by Council refuse workers. The reason Miss X’s waste was not collected was because of industrial strike action affecting all or most of the residents in the Council’s area.
7. The law says the Ombudsman cannot investigate matters which affect all or most of the residents in a council area. Therefore, we cannot investigate this complaint.

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Final decision

8. We cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint because the issue complained about affects all or most of the Council’s residents, and the law says we cannot investigate.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman