The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council has been racist in its treatment of Mr X. This is because we are unlikely to find evidence of fault by the Council.
The complaint
The complainant, who I refer to as Mr X, says the Council has been racist in its treatment of him during its consideration of his noise nuisance complaints and about repair issues in relation to his privately rented property.
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)
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Mr X complained to the Council that its treatment of him had been racist when he had sought assistance in relation to neighbour noise nuisance and disrepair issues at his property.
The Council investigated but found no evidence of direct or indirect discrimination and did not uphold his complaint.
The Council considered his complaint at the three stages of its complaints procedure but found no evidence to support his allegations of racism by officers. An investigation by the Ombudsman is unlikely to add to that already carried out by the Council and I have seen no evidence to suggest the Council has been racist in its treatment of Mr X.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because we are unlikely to find evidence of fault by the Council.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman