Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions involving Miss X while she was using a library facility. This is because there is no worthwhile outcome we can achieve by investigating.

The complaint

1. Miss X said the Council were at fault because it asked her to stop an online discussion she was having with a prospective employer, at one of its libraries. Miss X said because of this she missed out on a job opportunity and now wants the Council to compensate her.

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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 no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation. (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 I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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Final decision

4. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because there is no worthwhile outcome achievable. The Council has already explained its actions in detail, and these appear to be a reasonable explanation. And in any case, we could not say the Council had any liability to compensate Miss X for a loss of employment opportunity.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman