Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with Mr X’s complaint about councillor conduct. This is because the injustice caused to Mr X is not serious enough to warrant our involvement or the cost to public funds of an investigation.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained to the Council about an encounter he had with a councillor which Mr X felt to be aggressive and bullying. Mr X complained the Council failed to take account of a statement he provided from a witness, in deciding not to progress the complaint. Mr X was caused upset by the encounter.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Ombudsman investigates 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 may decide not to continue with an investigation if we decide any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))

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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. While I recognise Mr X was upset following the encounter and is dissatisfied with the Council’s handling of his complaint, I do not consider this represents injustice serious enough to warrant our further involvement or the cost to public funds of an investigation.
6. For this reason, we will not investigate.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because the injustice caused to him is not sufficient to warrant our involvement.

Investigator’s decision on behalf of the Ombudsman

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman