Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council not providing financial assistance after he allowed his homeless friend to stay with him. The Council has now arranged to pay Mr X. There is nothing worthwhile to be achieved through further investigation.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained the Council did not provide the financial assistance it agreed too, after he allowed his homeless friend to stay with him. He said that had caused financial hardship. He wants the Council to pay him the necessary financial support.

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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 there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation. (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. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint the Council did not pay him financial support as agreed. The Council has confirmed that Mr X has now provided his bank details and it has processed the requested payment. There is nothing worthwhile to be achieved through further investigation.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is nothing worthwhile to be achieved through further investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman