The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council failed to pay Mr X the financial remedy it agreed in its complaint response. That is because the Council has now processed the payment and apologised for the delay.
The complaint
Mr X complained to the Council about how it had dealt with his housing register application. The Council’s independent adjudicator investigated and upheld his complaint. They said the Council would pay Mr X a financial remedy for the injustice caused and apologise for its actions. Mr X subsequently complained to the Ombudsman after the Council failed to pay the financial remedy or apologise in the agreed timeframe.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. In this statement, I have used the word ‘fault’ to refer to these. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. 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)
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Following our enquiries, the Council said it had contacted Mr X to apologise. It wrote to him and confirmed he would receive the financial remedy within the next week. As I am satisfied with the action the Council has taken, we will not consider this complaint further.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because we are satisfied with the action the Council has taken.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman