Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council delayed signing off work to a property. This is because the Council has now signed off the work and therefore investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complains that the Council delayed signing off work carried out to 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 the complainant and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. I will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint. The Council has now signed off the work and therefore investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because doing so would not lead to a different outcome.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman