Sheffield City Council (25 027 836)
Category : Other Categories > Other
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 05 Jul 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of a request for information. This is because the Information Commissioner’s Office is better placed to deal with the matter.
The complaint
- Ms X says the Council wrongly treated correspondence about her Freedom of Information (FOI) and Subject Access Requests (SAR) as an internal review.
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 effect 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 an investigation if we decide the tests set out in our Assessment Code are not met. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)
- We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide there is another body better placed to consider this complaint. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
- We normally expect someone to refer the matter to the Information Commissioner if they have a complaint about data protection. However, we may decide to investigate if we think there are good reasons. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Ms X and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Ms X says she did not request an internal review, and the Council did not address her concerns about the Council’s failure to disclose information.
- We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint. It is reasonable to expect her to take the matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The ICO is better placed to review complaints about the Council’s handling of FOI and SAR requests. It has the expertise to decide such matters, and can make necessary recommendations.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because it concerns the Council’s handling of FOI and SAR requests, which the ICO is better placed to consider.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman