The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the poor environmental state of the Council’s area. This is because the issues raised by Mr X affect all the residents of the Council’s area and so the complaint falls outside our jurisdiction.
The complaint
Mr X complains the Council has not done enough to address environmental issues like littering, fly-tipping, graffiti and anti-social behaviour across the borough.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
We cannot investigate something that affects all or most of the people in a council’s area. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(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
The restriction highlighted at paragraph 2 applies to Mr X’s complaint. The issues he complains about affect “all or most” of the people in the Council’s area and so the complaint falls outside our jurisdiction and cannot be investigated.
Final decision
We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint because the issues raised by him affect all the residents of the Council’s area and so it falls outside our jurisdiction.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman