Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to investigate Mrs X’s complaint about a different Council. This is because we are unlikely to find enough evidence of fault.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complains about the Council’s failure to investigate her complaint against Witney Town Council.

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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:

• there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating, or

(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 and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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Final decision

5. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because the Council has no remit to investigate complaints against a different Council.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman