Summary: We will not investigate X’s complaint about inconsistent payments to their business. This is because the issues have not caused X a significant enough injustice to warrant investigation.

The complaint

1. X complains that the Council’s payments to their company were inconsistent. X says three payments were made early and another on time. X says their company adjusted their spending based on the assumption that all payments would be early and that the payment made later raised concerns that payment would not be received.

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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 any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement. (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.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Our role is to consider complaints where the person bringing the complaint has suffered significant personal injustice as a direct result of the actions or inactions of the organisation. This means we will normally only investigate a complaint where the complainant has suffered serious loss, harm, or distress as a direct result of faults or failures. We will not normally investigate a complaint where the alleged loss or injustice is not a serious or significant matter.
6. I will not investigate X’s complaint. None of the payments made by the Council were late. Whilst I note that X says the inconsistent payments caused some uncertainty and inconvenience, I do not consider that X has demonstrated that they have suffered a significant injustice.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate X’s complaint because the issues raised have not caused them a significant enough injustice.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman