Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how a question was responded to at a Council meeting. This is because there is insufficient evidence that the complainant has suffered a significant injustice.

The complaint

1. The complainant, who I will call Ms X, complains that about how the Council dealt with a question she submitted for response at a Council meeting. She says she was led to believe the Head of the Council would respond, but instead another Councillor responded.

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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 any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Prior to a full Council meeting, Ms X submitted a question she wanted to ask the Leader of the Council. At the meeting the question was passed to a different Councillor, who provided an answer addressing the points she raised. Ms X asked a supplementary question, but the Councillor said they had nothing further to add.
6. I will not investigate Ms X’s complaint. Mss X received an answer to her question which addressed the points she raised. Whilst I note that Mss X wanted the Leader of the Council to answer her question, and the meeting agenda gave the impression they would, I do not consider this alone has caused her a significant enough injustice to justify our further involvement.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because she has not suffered a significant personal injustice.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman