Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to provide information related to a consultation which had been requested by Mr X before the end of the consultation period. 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

1. Mr X complains the Council failed to provide sufficient and timely information in relation to the speed bumps consultation it was carrying out. He says while he was able to submit a consultation response, it was not well informed because he did not have the additional information he had requested.

Back to top

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, or
• any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement, or
• 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), as amended, section 34(B))

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant, including the Council’s response to the complaint.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

Back to top

My assessment

5. The Council consulted with Mr X and other residents about the possible introduction of speed bumps in his road. Mr X requested additional information to inform his response to the consultation but received the information after the consultation period had ended. While waiting for the information he had asked the Council to extend the consultation.
6. In response to his complaint about this matter, the Council confirmed it aimed to respond quickly to enquiries raised during a consultation period but that it was not always possible due to volume of work. It said it had received several correspondences from Mr X in quick succession and so it had decided to send a single response. It said it had considered his request to extend the consultation period but as it had already been extended from 3 to 5 weeks to take account of the festive period, it decided not to.
7. We do not investigate every complaint we receive and while Mr X may be dissatisfied with the outcome of his complaint to the Council, there are insufficient grounds to warrant an investigation. Mr X was able to submit comments on the consultation and the Council responded to the concerns he had raised. An investigation by the Ombudsman is unlikely to add to that already carried out by the Council or lead to a different outcome.

Back to top

Final decision

8. 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.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman