Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council preventing Mr G from filming a committee meeting. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. Mr G has not claimed any injustice in the matter and the Council has already apologised and confirmed it should not have happened.

The complaint

1. Mr G says a committee chair told him not to film a public meeting, and the Council failed properly to handle his complaint and reply through its procedure for complaints about members. Mr G wants the Council to uphold his complaint and for the Council representatives involved to apologise personally.

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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 effect 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 an investigation if we decide the tests set out in our Assessment Code are not met. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)

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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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Final decision

5. We will not investigate Mr G’s complaint because he has not claimed any injustice from what happened, and we would only expect the Council, not individuals, to provide an apology which it has already done, so the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman