Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to approve a street party. Any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained about the Council’s decision to approve a street party which resulted in a road closure where he lives. He said the organisers failed to consult properly before applying to the Council to arrange the party. He said the road closure caused disruption. He wants the Council to complete more rigorous checks before agreeing street parties.

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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, or
• any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

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

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My assessment

5. We will normally only investigate a complaint where the complainant has suffered serious loss, harm or distress as a direct result of faults or failures by an organisation. The road closure for the street party was an isolated event. I appreciate Mr X may not have been in favour of holding a street party, but any injustice caused by this is not significant enough to justify our involvement.
6. In addition, the Council explained in its complaint response that it was the organisers responsibility to consult before the applying for a road closure to host a street party. The Council confirmed it had followed its process before approving the closure. It also followed up concerns Mr X had raised that the organiser had instructed residents to move their cars before the closure. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s actions to justify our involvement.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman