The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about a storytelling event due to be held at the Council’s library. This is because the matter has not caused Mrs X a significant personal injustice.
The complaint
The complainant, whom I shall call Mrs X, complains about the Council’s decision to hold a library storytelling event, presented by a drag queen, later this month.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
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 may decide not to start an investigation if the tests set out in our Assessment Code are not met. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended) We do not start an investigation if we decide: any fault has not caused injustice to the person who complained, or any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant. This included a copy of the Council’s response to her complaint.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Mrs X complains about the Council’s decision to hold a library storytelling event, aimed at children, which is presented by a drag queen later this month. Mrs X says the event is a child safeguarding issue and breaches government guidance.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint. This is because the matter complained about has not caused Mrs X a significant personal injustice.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman