Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s planning department. The complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. There is not enough evidence of fault to warrant our involvement.

The complaint

1. The complainant, I shall call Mr B, complains the Council’s planning department took months to respond to requests for help and failed to follow the complaints process.

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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 effect on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start an investigation if the tests set out in our Assessment Code are not met. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by Mr B and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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Final decision

5. We will not investigate Mr B’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s actions.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman