Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about highway grit storage because any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

The complaint

1. Mr Y complains the Council took too long to refill grit bins in his area last winter, despite him making 12 requests for this in about three months.
2. Mr Y says he could not put grit on the road which he feels caused a slip risk to the elderly in the area.

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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 any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement. Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information Mr Y and the Council provided and the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. In the early months of 2026, Mr Y contacted the Council several times to ask it to refill two grit storage containers in his area. As the Council did not refill the bins, Mr Y complained. The Council apologised and says it will refill the containers in its preparations for the winter period in 2026/2027. Mr Y remained unhappy and later approached us in August 2026.
6. Our role is to consider complaints where the person bringing the complaint has suffered significant personal injustice as a direct result of the actions or inactions of the organisation. This means we will normally only investigate a complaint where the complainant has suffered a serious loss, harm or distress as a direct result of faults or failures. We will not normally investigate a complaint where the alleged loss of injustice is not a serious or significant matter.
7. We must use public money carefully. While Mr Y is concerned about the safety of others and may feel strongly about the matter, he has not suffered a significant loss, harm or distress because of the Council’s inaction. Consequently, we will not investigate this complaint.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr Y’s complaint because any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman