Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s approval of play street events on Mr X’s street. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault to warrant an investigation.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained the Council has not followed its Play Street Policy when approving an application to hold play street events on his street.
2. He would like the Council to suspend the events and carry out further consideration of the application.

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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 there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Mr X complained the Council had not complied with certain requirements of its play street policy. The Council provided a response detailing how it had satisfied itself the policy was complied with.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman