Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s withholding of information. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. We consider the complainant has not suffered a significant personal injustice which justifies our involvement.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council withheld information about buying a house for use as a children’s home near where he lives. He says Council’s failure to be open and transparent has caused him to lose respect and faith in the Council.

Back to top

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))

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

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

Back to top

Final decision

5. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because, while understand he is concerned about the Council’s actions, I do not consider he has suffered a significant personal injustice which warrants our involvement.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman