Redcar & Cleveland Council (25 024 506)
Category : Other Categories > Other
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 05 May 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council not removing flags from public spaces. We have not seen enough evidence of fault with the Council’s decision to warrant a further investigation.
The complaint
- Mr X complains about flags in public spaces. He says the Council is failing in its duty to promote good community relations because it has not taken the flags down. Mr X said the Council should prosecute offenders.
- He says the flags have upset him and wants the Council to take them down.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- 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 not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because we have not seen enough evidence of fault with the Council’s decision to justify a further investigation.
- The Council said the flags in public spaces are not authorised.
- However, it has decided not to remove flags after considering community safety, equality concerns and advice from the police. The Council explained that this decision is subject to review.
- The Council said it may remove flags where they pose a safety risk or contain offensive content.
- The Council acknowledged this is a sensitive issue and said whatever decision it makes about the flags may not be accepted by everyone.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because we have not seen enough evidence of fault with the Council’s decision to justify a further investigation.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman