Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s consultation on works to extend a playground. There is not enough evidence of fault by the Council.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains about the Council extending a playground next to her residence without meaningful consultation with local residents.

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

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by Ms X and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. The improvements and extensions to the playground did not require planning permission and are permitted under permitted development rights. Where development falls within permitted development rights, there is no prescribed consultation process for notifying residents about the development.
6. The evidence I have seen shows the Council carried out public consultations for the proposed works between April and October 2025. This included both online and in-person consultation, and direct consultation with residents living next to the playground. The evidence I have seen also shows the Council recorded concerns from residents in its engagement report and considered this in its playground design.
7. The Council undertook an appropriate amount of consultation and considered concerns raised by residents. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify us investigating. The fact Ms X considers the Council should have done more, or that some residents were contacted later in the consultation, does not make the Council’s consultation inadequate.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman