Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the neutrality of published details regarding a refugee event as Mr X is not personally affected by this to a degree that would justify our further involvement.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council failed to show neutrality in publishing details of a ‘refugee week’ and failed to properly deal with his complaint about this. Mr X says he was caused time, trouble and frustration.

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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 alleged fault has not caused significant injustice to the person who complained (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. I recognise Mr X remains concerned about the issues he raised in his complaint, and the Council’s complaint handling, but I do not consider he is caused a level of personal injustice from either matter to warrant our further involvement. We have limited resources and must direct them to the most serious cases.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because he is not caused a level of injustice from it that would warrant our further involvement.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman