Summary: Mr X complains about delay by the Council in ensuring a derelict property near his home was improved and that an officer lied about what took place when they visited Mr X. The Ombudsman will not investigate as it is unlikely any investigation will lead to a different outcome.

The complaint

1. The complainant, whom I shall call Mr X, complains the Council delayed in ensuring a property near to his home, which was becoming derelict, was improved. Mr X also complains a Council officer lied about what took place during a visit to the property.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. In this statement, I have used the word ‘fault’ to refer to these. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint. I refer to this as ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start or continue with an investigation if we believe the injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement, or it is unlikely further investigation will lead to a different outcome (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I have considered what Mr X said in his complaint and his response to my draft decision.

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What I found

4. Mr X complained to the Council about a property near to his home which was becoming derelict. Mr X says this was affecting the area and the value of his home and was impacting on a vulnerable neighbour. Mr X complains about delay by the Council in ensuring the property was improved.
5. Mr X also complained to the Council about what took place when a Council officer came to look at the property and that an officer lied about this. This complaint included that the Council officers did not respond when Mr X asked if he could help and that afterwards, one of them wrongly said Mr X addressed him only by his surname.

Analysis

6. As the property has now been improved, it is unclear what we can add to the outcome of this complaint.
7. While Mr X remains upset about what happened during and after an exchange with Council officers, from our perspective, the injustice caused to him from this is not at a level that would warrant our involvement.

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Final decision

8. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint as it is unlikely he can achieve any different outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman