Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to restrict Mr X’s access to its library facilities. It is unlikely we would find fault and we cannot achieve the outcome Mr X is seeking.

The complaint

1. Mr X was unhappy the Council warned him about what it said was anti-social behaviour and restricted his access to its libraries. Mr X said the Council’s actions were libellous and discriminatory.
2. Mr X wants those responsible for this decision to be given a warning.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. 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, or
• we cannot achieve the outcome someone wants, or

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by Mr X and I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. The Council wrote to Mr X in July 2024, saying it believed his conduct had toward its staff and other customers was unreasonable. It said because of this it was restricting his access to its library facilities. It set out how it would restrict his access.
6. The Council replied to Mr X’s complaint and reiterated this earlier explanation, highlighting how he could continue, under certain conditions to attend his library. It also told him it would review its decision and said when it would do this.
7. Given the Council’s explanations here, it is unlikely we would find fault. Mr X has also said he wants the staff responsible to be given a warning. We could not direct the Council to do this.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint, because we are unlikely to find fault, and in any case could not achieve the outcome he is seeking.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman