Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s review of his housing priority banding. This is because progress has now been made and Mr X has withdrawn his complaint.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council did not award him the correct housing register priority band.

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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 investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse effect 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 an investigation if we decide the tests set out in our Assessment Code are not met. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)
4. It is our decision whether to start, and when to end an investigation into something the law allows us to investigate. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 24A(6) and 34B(8), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

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

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because he has withdrawn his complaint.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman