Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s management of temporary road works as a highways authority. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. There is no worthwhile outcome achievable by us investigating.

The complaint

1. Mr X was unhappy the Council did not do enough to limit the impact of temporary road works in his local area, during August and September last year. He wants the Council to do more in its role as a highways authority.

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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 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

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

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Final decision

4. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by us investigating his complaint.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman