North Northamptonshire Council (20 014 044)
Category : Environment and regulation > Antisocial behaviour
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 08 Nov 2021
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of Mr X’s reports of nuisance made against his neighbours. This is because an investigation is unlikely to add to that already carried out by the Council or lead to a different outcome.
The complaint
- The complainant, who I refer to as Mr X, complained to the Council about its response to his complaints that neighbours were causing him light and noise nuisance.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- 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:
- we could not add to any previous investigation by the organisation, or
- further investigation would not lead to a different outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- The Council investigated Mr X’s complaints about light and noise pollution from adjacent neighbours, but it found no evidence of a statutory nuisance. It closed the light nuisance complaint but it has told Mr X his noise complaint remains open and will continue to be investigated in accordance with its normal procedures.
- The Council has recently spoken to Mr X and told him it will install noise monitoring equipment in his home when the equipment becomes available. Were we to investigate, I do not consider we would be likely to add to the investigation carried out by the Council or that our investigation would lead to a significantly different outcome.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because an investigation is unlikely to add to that already carried out by the Council or lead to a different outcome.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman