Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to respond to a letter voicing concerns about changes to the Council’s arrangements for Council and Committee meetings. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.

The complaint

1. The complainant, who I shall refer to as Mr X, complains the Council failed to respond to a letter about proposed changes to arrangements for Council and Committee meetings.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Ombudsman investigates 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 may decide not to continue with an investigation if we decide there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))
3. We cannot question whether a council’s decision is right or wrong simply because the complainant disagrees with it. We must consider whether there was fault in the way the decision was reached. (Local Government Act 1974, section 34(3), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by Mr X and the Agenda and minutes of the Council meeting held on 3 February.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. The Council considered the proposed arrangements for Council and Committee meetings, at a meeting in February 2022. The minutes show following a discussion the matter was put to the vote and the new arrangements were accepted.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of administrative fault.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman