Summary: Ms X complains of bullying by members of a knitting group which meets in a Council library. She also says the group have misused a Council grant. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint as further investigation is unlikely to lead to a different result.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains members of a knitting group that meets at a local library as bullying her. She also complains the group has misspent a £95 grant from the Council.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. In this statement, I have used the word ‘fault’ to refer to these. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint. I refer to this as ‘injustice’. We provide a free service but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start or continue with an investigation if we believe:

• it is unlikely we would find fault
• it is unlikely we could add to any previous investigation by the Council
• it is unlikely further investigation will lead to a different outcome

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A (6), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered Ms X’s complaints to the Council and its responses. She can comment on this draft decision.

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What I found

4. Ms X belongs to a knitting group that meets in the Council library. She complained to the Council that group members are bullying her. She also complained that money the given to the group by the Council to buy wool for a community project had been misspent.
5. The Council told Ms X the group are adults from the community who use the library as a meeting space.
6. A Council officer has observed a group meeting and not witnessed any of the behaviour which Ms X complaints of. The officer has also spoken to other staff who have not witnessed bullying of Ms X. And the Council has told the group that if they cannot conduct themselves peacefully then they will not be permitted to meet in the library.
7. Because of Ms X’s concerns about the alleged misuse of the grant for wool the Council confirms it has checked the receipts and paperwork and is satisfied the money was spent correctly.

Assessment

8. The Council has observed a group meeting and interviewed staff. If is satisfied that it has not witnessed any bullying behaviour towards Ms X. It has also advised the group that if they cannot conduct themselves peacefully, they will not be able to use the library. It has also confirmed there has been no misuse of the grant for wool. I have not seen any evidence of fault in the way the Council has considered Ms X’s complaint.

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Final decision

9. I will not investigate this complaint. This is because:
• it is unlikely we would find fault
• it is unlikely we could add to any previous investigation by the Council
• it is unlikely further investigation will lead to a different outcome

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman