Summary: We will not investigate X’s complaint about how the Council handled her request to reduce the speed limit on a local road. This is because the Council has already agreed it will review the speed limit of the road and further investigation by us would not lead to a different outcome.

The complaint

1. X complained the Council failed to reduce the speed limit on a local road. She said she was worried someone could get hurt by a car. She wanted the Council to reduce the speed limit or confirm a date it would review it by.

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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 the complainant.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. X complained about a local road which has a speed limit of 40mph. She said she believed the area was classed as a built-up area and so the current speed limit was no longer suitable and should be reduced to 30mph.
6. The Council responded to X and said it would review the speed limit by the end of 2025. X wanted the Council to confirm a date for the review.
7. We will not investigate this complaint. The Council has already agreed to carry out a review of the speed limit. We cannot tell the Council what the speed limit should be, we would only be able to tell the Council to review it in-line with the relevant laws and policies. Therefore, further investigation by us into this matter would not lead to a different outcome.
8. I accept X would like the Council to confirm a date for the review. The Council has told X its speed management strategy explains how it prioritises reviews. We cannot tell the Council it must complete the review by a certain date, it is for the Council to plan how it prioritises its reviews as set out in its policies. It has already told X the review will be completed by the end of 2025.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate this complaint because further investigation by us would not lead to a different outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman