Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about damage to the complainant’s bin. This is because any injustice is not significant enough to warrant an investigation.

The complaint

1. X complains that Council refuse workers damaged their bin and that the Council is refusing to replace it free of charge.

Back to top

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))

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

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

Back to top

My assessment

5. I will not investigate X’s complaint. This is because the damage to their bin does not represent a level of injustice requiring investigation by the Ombudsman.

Back to top

Final decision

6. We will not investigate X’s complaint because the issues raised have not caused them a significant enough injustice.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman