Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about delay by the council in removing overgrown trees and ivy encroaching onto the complainant’s property. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. The Council confirms all planned tree work has been completed and the overgrown vegetation will complete the work by the end of the month. We consider further investigation will not lead to a different outcome.

The complaint

1. Miss X complains the Council delayed in removing overgrown trees and has not given a date for removing overgrown ivy which is encroaching onto her property.

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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 further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

(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 Miss X and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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Final decision

5. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because the Council confirms all planned tree work has been completed and the overgrown vegetation will complete the work by the end of the month. We consider further investigation will not lead to a different outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman