Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a planning application. This is because the complainant has not suffered any significant injustice.

The complaint

1. Mrs X has complained about how the Council dealt with a planning application for a development in the area where she lives. Mrs X says the conservation officer initially raised concerns about the development, however the officer changed their opinion and supported the application even though no new information was provided to justify the change.

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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 fault has not caused injustice to the person who complained, or
• 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

3. I considered information provided by Mrs X and the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

4. Mrs X has raised many concerns about the planning application and the Council’s conservation officer. However, I cannot say Mrs X has suffered any significant injustice because of any alleged fault by the Council. The Council ultimately decided to refuse planning permission. I understand Mrs X may not agree with the reasons given for the refusal, but as planning permission has not been granted the development will not be built.

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Final decision

5. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because she has not suffered any significant injustice as a result of the alleged fault.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman