Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council reported inaccurate information about the number of people who visit the area. This is because the issue has not caused Mr X a significant personal injustice.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains that the Council reported inaccurate information about the number of people who visit the area.

Back to top

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 fault has not caused injustice to the person who complained, or
• any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

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

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

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

Back to top

My assessment

5. Our role is to consider complaints where the person bringing the complaint has suffered significant personal injustice as a direct result of the actions or inactions of the organisation. This means we will normally only investigate a complaint where the complainant has suffered serious loss, harm, or distress as a direct result of faults or failures.
6. I will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because I do not consider the issue he has raised has caused him a significant enough injustice to warrant our involvement.

Back to top

Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because he has not suffered a significant injustice.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman