Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council failed to meet its duty under the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014. This is because Mr X is not caused a level of personal loss that would justify our further involvement.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained the Council failed to meet its duty under the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 when it did not provide information he had requested when he exercised his right to inspect its accounts. Mr X wants the Council to apologise and to provide the information.

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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 any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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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. While I recognise that Mr X feels strongly about this matter, we will not investigate as I do not consider he has suffered personal loss or harm to a degree that would warrant our involvement or that it would be in the public interest for us to investigate.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because any injustice caused to him is not sufficient to warrant our further involvement.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman