Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about two blocked gullies causing flooding on the public highway in late 2024. The Council cleared the blockage in early 2025. An investigation into this matter is unlikely to achieve any additional outcome.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained the Council failed to clear two gullies in its area which caused flooding on the public highway.
2. Mr X said the matter caused him frustration.

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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:

• further investigation would not lead to a different outcome, or
• there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation.

(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 the complainant and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about two blocked gullies in the Council’s area which he said caused flooding on the highway in late 2024.
7. This is because the Council wrote to Mr X and told him it would carry out work to the gullies in February 2025. In response to the Ombudsman’s enquiries, the Council confirmed it completed the work in February 2025.
8. An investigation into this matter is unlikely to achieve any additional outcome, therefore we will not investigate this complaint.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because an investigation is unlikely to achieve any additional outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman