Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about a street light that was not working as it has now been repaired and it is unlikely we can achieve more than this.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complains the Council has not fixed a broken street light that has not been working for three years.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. In this statement, I have used the word ‘fault’ to refer to these. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint. I refer to this as ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start or continue with an investigation if we believe it is unlikely further investigation will lead to a different outcome, (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I have considered what Mrs X said in her complaint.

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What I found

4. Mrs X complains the Council has not fixed a broken street light that has not been working for three years.
5. The Council confirms that a fault with the street light was reported in 2017 but that it has now been fixed.
6. Mrs X confirms the matter is now resolved.

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Final decision

7. My decision is that the Ombudsman will not investigate as the light has now been fixed and it is unlikely we could achieve more than this.

Investigator’s final decision on behalf of the Ombudsman

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman