Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s involvement in supporting a community event. This is because the Council have already investigated and responded to X with an explanation. Further investigation would not achieve any worthwhile outcome.

The complaint

1. X complaints that the Council did not take further action in response to concerns about funding arrangements for a community event. X said the Council’s actions has caused them distress.

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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 there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation. (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 and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. X is seeking a formal investigation into the funding arrangements relating to a community event. And they now want the current funding halted.
6. The Council met with X to obtain further information; It has reviewed the history of their complaint as well as liaising with colleagues and seeking additional advice. The Council decided the matter related to a contract dispute between X and others.
7. In these circumstances, the Council has considered X’s complaint, provided responses and explanations, and decided no further action is appropriate. The Ombudsman cannot direct the Council to take the action X wants it to. Therefore, we will not investigate because there is no worthwhile outcome that we could achieve through further investigation.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate X’s complaint because there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman