Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about damage to her property caused by a Council owned tree. This is because it is reasonable for Miss X to take the matter to court.

The complaint

1. Miss X complained about damage caused to her property by a Council owned tree.
2. Miss X says the matter has caused her distress.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
4. The law says we cannot normally investigate a complaint when someone could take the matter to court. However, we may decide to investigate if we consider it would be unreasonable to expect the person to go to court. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(6)(c), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

5. I considered information provided by the complainant.
6. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

7. We will not investigate this complaint. The role of the Ombudsman is to consider complaints of administrative fault. We cannot decide liability in complaints about damage to property. Only the courts can do this. Miss X submitted a claim to the Council’s insurers, but the claim was rejected. It is now open to Miss X to take the matter to court, and it is reasonable to expect Miss X to do so.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because it is reasonable for her to take the matter to court.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman