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) Can the Ombudsman investigate this complaint? Have you given the council a chance to investigate the complaint and respond to you? Outcomes/Remedies Close Window

What happens during an investigation?


The complaint will be allocated to an individual investigator who will contact you to explain how it is being dealt with and to request further information. Initial contact will usually be by telephone, but where this is not possible we will get in touch by letter or email. It is helpful if you could say whether you wish us to contact you or your client and how best to do so.

If the investigator decides that the Ombudsman can investigate the complaint then he or she may do any or all of the following:

  • Visit you and / or your client
  • Make written or telephone enquiries of the council
  • Send you and / or your client the council’s response to the enquiries and invite your comments
  • Carry out a site visit
  • Examine council files
  • Interview council officers or councillors
  • Take photographs
  • Collect information from third parties

 

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