Summary: We will not investigate Mr B’s complaint about the Council not taking action about illegal signs attached to street furniture that he has reported. This is because the alleged fault has not caused Mr B a significant injustice.

The complaint

1. The complainant, who I will refer to as Mr B, complains that the Council is failing to take action about illegal signs attached to street furniture which are used to advertise local fairs. Mr B says the presence of these signs four or five times a year causes him distress and are a distraction to motorists. Mr B would like the Council to remove the signs and fine the offender.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Ombudsman investigates 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 an investigation if we decide:

• any fault has not caused injustice to the person who complained, or
• any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by Mr B.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Mr B says the signs cause him distress when they are displayed four or five times a year. Mr B is also concerned the signs are a distraction to motorists. But, I find the injustice Mr B claims to have suffered is not significant enough to justify an investigation by the Ombudsman.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mr B’s complaint because he has not suffered a significant injustice because of the alleged fault.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman