Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to reduce the brightness of streetlights along a road in the local area. This is because the alleged fault did not cause significant enough injustice to Mr X to warrant an investigation.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained the Council has dimmed the brightness of street lighting along a road in the area to a level that is unsafe.

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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
• any fault has not caused injustice to the person who complained.

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

5. The Council has explained the reasons it decided to dim the streetlights, and it is not for us to question its rationale. It told Mr X the road did not meet the requirements to leave the lights turned on more brightly and that the lighting levels are the same as other streets across the County. It also confirmed the police had not raised any concerns, but it would continue to note any issues caused by the reduced lighting levels. It is therefore unlikely we would find fault in the way the Council reached its decision.
6. Mr X has complained the Council reducing the light levels has caused a general safety risk for the public, but he does not claim any significant personal injustice from the Council’s decision. The road is several miles away from Mr X’s property and although he has provided evidence to show he was made aware of the issue by someone who lives closer, he has not raised the complaint on their behalf. We must therefore look at the injustice caused to Mr X himself and this is not significant enough to warrant investigation.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council or to show the Council’s decision caused Mr X significant enough injustice to warrant an investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman