Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about weeds on his road as the personal injustice caused to Mr X is not sufficient to warrant our involvement.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains about weeds on the road where he lives which he feels makes it look messy. Mr X disputes the Council’s position that it carried out weed killing as Mr X says the weeds show no sign of being treated.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Ombudsman investigates 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 may decide not to continue with an investigation if we decide any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))

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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. While I recognise Mr X’s dissatisfaction, from our perspective, the level of personal injustice caused to him from his complaint is not sufficient to warrant our involvement. We will not therefore investigate.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because he is not caused sufficient personal injustice from it to warrant our involvement.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman