Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about a road closure. This is because we cannot investigate complaints which are not the administrative function of a council.

The complaint

1. Ms X complained the Council did not notify her the road her business is located on would be closed to traffic. She said the road closure had severely impacted the turnover of her business. Ms X wanted the Council to reimburse her for charges her business has incurred due to the road closure.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We cannot investigate complaints about actions which are not the administrative function of a council. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(1) as amended).

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by Ms X and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Ms X complained the Council did not notify her about a road closure which she said had a negative impact on her business.
6. The Council advised Ms X the roadworks had been carried out by another organisation. It provided her with the organisation’s contact details so she could take her complaint forward with them.
7. The Council is not the highways authority for the road which was closed. Therefore, the road closure is not an administrative function of the Council and we cannot investigate the complaint.

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Final decision

8. We cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint because we cannot investigate complaints about actions which are not the administrative function of a council.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman