Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to ensure all key delegated decisions taken by officers are uploaded to its website. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. We do not consider further investigation will lead to a different outcome.

The complaint

1. The complainant, whom I shall call Mr X, complains the Council has failed to upload and update all key delegated decisions taken by officers. He also says it is almost impossible to find these decisions on the Council’s website.

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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 effect 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 the tests set out in our Assessment Code are not met. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)
3. We may decide not to start or continue with an investigation if we are satisfied with the actions an organisation has taken or proposes to take. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(7), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by Mr X.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because the Council has already agreed to review the signposting to delegated decisions on its website and upload any which have been missed. We do not consider further investigation will lead to a different outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman