The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint the Council cancelled an event booking at one of its venues. Further investigation by the Ombudsman will not lead to a different outcome.
The complaint
Mr X complained about the Council’s decision to cancel an event booking he had made at one of its venues. He said it had not provided a good reason for cancelling the booking, and its decision had cost him over £4000 in damages. He wants an apology from the Council and for it to pay him compensation.
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 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: further investigation would not lead to a different outcome, or there is another body better placed to consider this complaint.
(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
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 Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to cancel his venue booking. The Council’s complaint response sets out why it does not want to continue working with Mr X. Although Mr X may disagree with the Council’s decision, further investigation by the Ombudsman will not lead to a different outcome. In addition, the Council confirmed it has refunded Mr X any booking fees. If Mr X wants compensation for damages caused to his business by the cancellation, it would be appropriate for him to progress this through the county court.
Mr X also complained the Council delayed in responding to his complaint. It is not a good use of public resources to investigate a complaint where we are not looking at the substantive matter. Therefore, we will not consider this further.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because further investigation will not lead to a different outcome.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman