Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about lighting in an alley way as the complainant is not caused a significant injustice from it.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains lighting in an alley way near to his home is obscured by trees from private houses. Mr X says the alley is unsafe for his daughter to use in the hours of darkness to return home from work. Mr X wants the Council to ensure the trees are cut back to allow light to properly penetrate the alley.

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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 any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. I recognise Mr X’s concerns but the injustice he describes does not represent tangible loss or harm to him personally at a level that would justify our further involvement. In addition, while I appreciate the alley way might represent a short cut, there are residential streets around Mr X’s home that could reasonably be used as an alternative route to his property.
6. We have limited resources and must direct them to the most serious cases. I do not consider this case warrants our investigation, in the public interest.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because he is not caused a level of injustice from it that would justify our further involvement.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman