Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about information the Council holds on its Electoral Register about Mr X’s family members. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council or injustice caused to Mr X to warrant an investigation.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council has harassed him by sending information related to the Electoral Register and family members at his address.

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

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My assessment

5. Mr X has complained about information concerning the Electoral Register that the Council sent to family members at his address.
6. We do not investigate every complaint we receive and here there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council or injustice caused to Mr X to warrant an investigation.
7. Should a family member decide to make their own complaint about any issues relating to this matter, it is open to them to contact the Council directly in the first instance. They can then make their own complaint to us if they are not satisfied with the Council’s response.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council or injustice caused to him to warrant an investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman