Suffolk County Council (22 014 860)
Category : Transport and highways > Highway repair and maintenance
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 02 Mar 2023
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision not to remove or repair two damaged road signs. This is because the matter complained about has not caused Mr X a significant personal injustice which is serious enough to merit an investigation.
The complaint
- The complainant, whom I shall call Mr X, complains about the Council’s decision not to remove or repair two damaged road signs.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- 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)
- We do not start an investigation if we decide any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X reported two damaged road signs to the Council.
- The Council told Mr X that in line with its criteria and Highway Maintenance Operational Plan the signs did not require immediate replacement or removal. It said it would pass the details to the relevant team who would prioritise the matter alongside other highway issues and take action where necessary.
- Mr X says the signs should either be removed or repaired.
- Whilst I acknowledge Mr X is dissatisfied with the Council’s decision the matter has not caused him a significant personal injustice which is serious enough to merit an investigation by this office. We do not investigate every complaint we receive. We must use our limited public resources to focus on those complaints where a person has suffered a significant personal injustice as a result of fault by a body in our jurisdiction.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint. This is because the matter has not caused Mr X any significant personal injustice which is serious enough to merit an investigation.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman