Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about social media posts by a councillor. Any fault has not caused injustice to Mr X.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained about social media posts by a councillor.

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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 fault has not caused injustice to the person who complained. (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 Mr X.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. 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 by an organisation. In addition, we will not normally investigate a complaint where the complainant is using their enquiry as a way of raising a wider community campaign about something of general concern but where they have not suffered injustice.
6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint. From the evidence I have seen, any fault has not caused significant personal injustice to him.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because any fault has not caused injustice to him.

Investigator’s decision on behalf of the Ombudsman

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman