Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about Council delay in responding to his information request. This is because the Information Commissioner’s Office is best placed to deal with this matter.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains abut Council delay in responding to his information request.

Back to top

The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Information Commissioner's Office considers complaints about freedom of information. Its decision notices may be appealed to the First Tier Tribunal (Information Rights). So where we receive complaints about freedom of information, we normally consider it reasonable to expect the person to refer the matter to the Information Commissioner.

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

3. I have considered what Mr X said in his complaint and I have sent him my draft decision for his comments. Mr X made no further comment.

Back to top

What I found

4. Mr X complains about Council delay in responding to his information request.
5. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the UK’s authority on upholding information rights. It is best placed to deal with Mr X’s complaint and so we will not investigate.

Back to top

Final decision

6. My decision is that the Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint. This is because the ICO is best placed to deal with this matter.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman