Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to rectify persistent highway flooding on a road close to the complainant’s home. The Council confirms work has now been completed. We consider further investigation is unlikely to lead to a different outcome.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains the Council has failed to rectify persistent highway flooding on a road close to her home.

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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 further investigation would not lead to a different outcome. (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 Ms X and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. In response to my enquiries, the Council confirms its contractor has:
• installed new roadside gullies at the site
• cleared the roadside ditches; and
• patched the carriageway.

This work was completed after Ms X’s complaint to the Ombudsman.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because further investigation is unlikely to lead to a different outcome.
    
7. Investigator’s decision on behalf of the Ombudsman

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman