Hyndburn Borough Council (25 019 268)
Category : Other Categories > Leisure and culture
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 12 Feb 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about park benches in a local park. This is because an investigation would be unlikely to find fault with the Council’s actions.
The complaint
- Mr X complained there are not enough park benches in his local park.
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 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 fault has not caused injustice to the person who complained, or
- any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.
(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X complained there are not enough park benches in a local park. He said this meant he and his relative did not have somewhere to sit.
- The Council visited the park and confirmed there were multiple benches situated throughout the area, along with handrails. The Council explained this was ample seating.
- Mr X wants us to find the Council at fault. The evidence shows the Council has considered Mr X’s complaint and inspected the park. It has decided the park benches are suitable for the residents. There is no evidence of fault in the Council’s actions or of significant personal injustice to Mr X due to this matter. An investigation would therefore be unlikely to result in finding fault with the Council’s actions.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because an investigation would be unlikely to find fault with the Council’s actions.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman