The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about access to a beach-hut. That is because Mr and Mrs X’s injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.
The complaint
Mr and Mrs X complained they could not use their beach-hut for a month after the Council completed work to the beach. They want the Council to reimburse them £100 to reflect the period they could not use the hut.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
The Ombudsman investigates 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 may decide not to continue with an investigation if we decide 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 and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
We will not investigate this complaint, as the injustice experienced by Mr and Mrs X is not significant enough to justify our involvement. They were only without access to the beach-hut for a month; and although they state the cost of that lost month was £100, the annual fee of the beach hut is £598, therefore the monthly cost is £50.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr and Mrs X’s complaint because the injustice experienced is not enough to justify our involvement.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman