Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a complaint about a councillor’s conduct. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault.

The complaint

1. X complains about how the Council dealt with their complaint about the conduct of 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 there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. (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. The Council considered X’s complaint about a councillor but decided it would not investigate it because the councillor was no longer in post.
6. I will not investigate X’s complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault with how the Council dealt with their complaint. The Council’s decision not to investigate the matter was made in accordance with its published policy.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate X’s complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman