Hertfordshire County Council (21 011 908)
Category : Other Categories > Leisure and culture
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 10 Jan 2022
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the status of a local nature reserve. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate.
The complaint
- The complainant, who I refer to here as Mr B, has complained the Council has failed to perform duties towards the a local nature reserve under the National Parks and Access to Countryside Act 1949.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- 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 may decide not to start an investigation if the tests set out in our Assessment Code are not met. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Mr B. I also considered our Assessment Code.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr B’s complaint because it does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code. While I appreciate Mr B has an interest in the nature reserve, fault by the Council has not caused him injustice that warrants our involvement. .
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman