Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision that an electrical feeder box at the front of Mr X’s property is not one of its assets. This is because an investigation by the Ombudsman is unlikely to add to that already undertaken by the Council or lead to a different outcome.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains a Council electrical feeder box was installed within the dropped kerb area outside the front of his property. He says he has contacted the Council on several occasions but he has been referred back to UK Power Networks (UKPN) who in turn have referred him back to the Council. He wants the Council to accept the box is its and re-site it.

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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 not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating, or
• we could not add to any previous investigation by the organisation, or
• further investigation would not lead to a different outcome, or
• we cannot achieve the outcome someone wants. (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 the Council, including its response to the complaint.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Out the front of Mr X’s property is an electricity feeder box which he wants removed to make access to his property easier.
6. He contacted the Council who confirmed the asset did not belong to the Council and it suggested he contact UKPN (whose predecessor body is noted on the box with a sign) and the local police force as the box is involved in powering police cameras.
7. Mr X says he says been passed around and wants the Council to take action. However, the Council has investigated the matter and decided the feeder box is not the Council’s. An investigation by the Ombudsman is unlikely to add to the Council’s own or lead to a different outcome so we will not investigate the complaint.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because an investigation by the Ombudsman is unlikely to add to that already undertaken by the Council or lead to a different outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman