Can you complain to the Local Government Ombudsman? Is the complaint about something that the Ombudsman can investigate? Has the council done something wrong? (maladministration) Has the fault affected your client in some way? (injustice) Have you given the council a chance to investigate the complaint and respond to you? What happens during an investigation? Outcomes/Remedies Close Window

Can the Ombudsman investigate this complaint?


By law there are certain things that the Ombudsman cannot investigate at all. He or she has no discretion in these areas, regardless of any fault by the council. These include:

  • the conduct of court proceedings
  • some contractual and commercial transactions (please seek advice if in any doubt)
  • personnel matters (about an individual’s employment – including pay or dismissal)
  • the internal management of a school or college

There are two particularly complex areas of the law where sometimes the Ombudsman may investigate and sometimes he or she may not (click on the boxes for more information). These are:

1. Where your client has or had an alternative remedy:
  • by taking court action against a council
  • by making an appeal to a statutory tribunal
  • by making an appeal to a Government Minister

> more info

2. Where your client has known about the events complained about for more than 12 months before making a complaint to the Ombudsman or councillor.

 

> more info

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