Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s requirement for the complainant to get consent from the statutory undertaker to connect their surface water run off to a sewer. Further investigation is not likely to lead to a different outcome. And we cannot achieve the outcome the complainant is seeking.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complains the Council will not issue a completion certificate for the extension to her home. It requires consent from the local water company to connect to the sewer or to combine rainwater discharge with foul water.

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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)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by Mrs X and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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Final decision

5. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because further investigation will not lead to a different outcome. We cannot set aside the requirement for the consent from the water company to combine rainwater with foul water. This is a requirement under the Building Regulations.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman