Summary: We will not investigate Miss X complaint that the Council are responsible for the loss of a strap used to secure her bin. Any claimed injustice is not significant enough to justify an investigation.

The complaint

1. Miss X complains that the Council are responsible for the loss of a strap used to secure her bin.

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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 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

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. I will not investigate Miss X’s complaint. The cost of replacing the strap is relatively modest. Therefore, I find she has not suffered a significant enough injustice to justify public money being spent on an investigation by the Ombudsman.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because any claimed injustice is not significant enough to warrant and investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman