Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s actions in response to his concerns about overgrown vegetation because it is unlikely we could achieve anything further and any personal injustice is not significant enough to warrant a further investigation.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained the Council did not take appropriate action in response to his concerns about overgrown vegetation. Mr X said he is anxious when walking on the nearby footpath. He also said the Council’s online reporting system is not suitable for the public to report concerns about overgrown vegetation. Mr X wants the Council to trim back the overgrown vegetation and to regularly maintain it. He also wants the Council to review its online reporting system.

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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:

• any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement, or
• we could not add to any previous investigation by the organisation.

(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 Mr X and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. In response to Mr X’s complaint, the Council:
• explained to Mr X the location of the overgrown vegetation was not registered to any owner including the Council. However, the Council visited the site in late 2025 and trimmed back the vegetation; and
• informed Mr X it would include the location as part of its regular inspections and would continue to maintain it as it recognised Mr X’s concerns.
6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint. This is because the Council responded appropriately to his concerns. It attended the location, took necessary action and said it would continue to maintain the area. An investigation by us is unlikely to achieve anything further.
7. We recognise the Council did not address Mr X’s concerns about its online reporting system however, we do not consider this caused him a significant personal injustice, as the Council had already resolved the substantive issue regarding the overgrown vegetation.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is unlikely we could achieve anything further and any personal injustice is not significant enough to warrant a further investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman