Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s failure to pay an invoice. This is because the Council has now paid the invoice in full.

The complaint

1. The complainant, Mrs X, complains the Council has failed to pay her company’s invoice for services provided in May 2023.

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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 provide a free service but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start or continue with an investigation if we are satisfied with the actions an organisation has taken or proposes to take. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(7), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by Mrs X and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Following my enquiries the Council has now paid the invoice and Mrs X confirms this resolves her complaint.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate this complaint. This is because the Council has now paid Mrs X’s company’s invoice and this provides a suitable remedy for the complaint.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman