Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a delay in the Council’s response to an enquiry made by Mr X’s Member of Parliament (MP). The Council has advised the delay was due to volume of work. We consider further investigation will not lead to a different outcome. We also consider that, while Mr X may have found the delay disrespectful and discourteous, we do not consider the injustice he suffered is so significant as to justify an investigation.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council took five months to respond to an enquiry he raised via his MP.
2. He says this was discourteous and disrespectful to both him and the MP.
3. Mr X wants an explanation for the delay.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

4. 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 injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement, or
• further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

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

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How I considered this complaint

5. I considered information provided by Mr X.
6. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

7. In support of his complaint, Mr X has provided copies of the Council’s responses to him. The Council has confirmed the delay in the response to the MP was due to volume of work being carried out by the officers concerned.
8. I understand Mr X does not believe this statement and wants us to require the Council to tell the truth for the reason for the delayed response. And to take steps to ensure no such delay occurs again.
9. The delay in the response to the MP may have been frustrating for Mr X. However, the Council has advised this was due to volume of work. It has provided the information requested.

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Final decision

10. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because the Council has already advised the reason for the delay in its response to the MP’s enquiry. We consider further investigation will not lead to a different outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman