The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint the Council used an unfair selection process when choosing an organisation to run a community centre. That is because Mr X has not been caused an injustice by the Council’s actions.
The complaint
Mr X complained the Council used an unfair selection process to choose an organisation to run a community centre. Mr X believes the Council should have chosen a different organisation, Organisation B. He said the Councils actions were disappointing. He wants it to repeat the selection process.
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: there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating, or any fault has not caused injustice to the person who complained.
(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. In its complaint response, the Council confirmed Mr X was not a named representative for Organisation B. Therefore, there is nothing to suggest the Council’s actions have caused him a direct, personal injustice.
In addition, the Council confirmed it published the opportunity on its website, assessed applications fairly and provided feedback to organisation that bid. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify our involvement.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is nothing to suggest he has been caused an injustice
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman