Norfolk County Council (24 018 234)
Category : Environment and regulation > Trading standards
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 10 Feb 2025
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council failed to respond to Ms X’s request for information. This is because the Information Commissioner is better placed to consider the matter. Other issues raised already been considered been considered in a previous complaint to the Ombudsman.
The complaint
- Ms X complains about how the Council’s trading standards has dealt with her reports of insurance fraud. She also complains that the Council has failed to respond to her requests for information.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- 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 another body better placed to consider this complaint. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
- We normally expect someone to refer the matter to the Information Commissioner if they have a complaint about data protection. However, we may decide to investigate if we think there are good reasons. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- I will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about how the Council dealt with her reports of insurance fraud. This is because we previously considered this complaint under a separate case.
- I will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about how the Council dealt with her requests for information under GDPR regulations. This is because the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) are better placed to dealt with complaints about requests for information.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because the Information Commissioner is better placed to consider the matter. Other issues raised already been considered been considered in a previous complaint to the Ombudsman.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman