Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s use of funds from a trust on its own land. We do not consider Ms X has suffered a significant personal injustice which warrants our involvement.

The complaint

1. Ms C complains the Council has used funds from a trust set up to support the town’s regeneration which she says is largely funded by new homeowners, on its own land.
2. She also complains the Council failed to request evidence of community support and no decision is recorded on a recent tender process to enter a long-term lease with the trust for a Council building.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. 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.

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

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by Ms X and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. I understand Ms X believes the Council’s decision means she is paying twice for a Council owned property: once through council tax and again through the annual payment she pays to the trust.
7. While I understand this is frustrating and causes Ms X some concern, I do not consider the Council’s actions have cause her such a significant personal injustice as to warrant an investigation.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint as we do not consider she has suffered a significant personal injustice.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman