Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about banners of street furniture. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.

The complaint

1. Mr Y complained the Council has refused to remove flags from highway furniture such as lampposts without a proper explanation.
2. Mr Y says the issue has led to his area looking more run down.

Back to top

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))

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information Mr Y provided and the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

Back to top

My assessment

5. Mr Y complained to the Council about a number of flags on street furniture, often lamp posts in his local area. The Council responded to Mr Y explaining its risk-based policy on items attached to lamp posts. It invited Mr Y to report any lamp posts or other street furniture that he was concerned. Mr Y was dissatisfied with this response and approached us.
6. We cannot question whether a council’s decision is right or wrong simply because the complainant disagrees with it. We must consider whether there was fault in the way the decision was reached.
7. In this case, the Council has explained its approach to the type of issue Mr Y has complained about. It has asked him to provide specific examples of his concern through its reporting system, following which it has explained how it will consider the report. As the Council has explained how it will treat any report and explained its need for specific reports, rather than a more general concern, there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.

Back to top

Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr Y’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman