Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council not introducing traffic management measures the complainant believes are necessary. There is nothing to suggest fault by the Council.

The complaint

1. The complainant, who I refer to here as Mr Y, asked the Council to lower the speed limit and introduce other measures on roads near his home. The Council has explained why it will not do so. .

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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 provide a free service but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start an investigation if, for example, we believe it is unlikely we would find fault. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)
3. We are not an appeal body and 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 that is likely to have affected the outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 34(3), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by Mr Y which included his correspondence with the Council. I also considered our Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. The Council has not ignored Mr Y’s and has explained to him why it decided it will not introduce the measures he has requested. That is a decision the Council is entitled to make.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mr Y’s complaint because there is no evidence of fault by the Council.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman