Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council response to a complaint about the actions of councillors. This is because the complainant is not a member of the public but a councillor complaining about other councillors in their capacity as local political representatives.

The complaint

1. Miss X complains about the Monitoring Officer not considering her complaints about other councillors properly.
2. She is a councillor. She says she has been caused personal stress and there may be a failure to support local democracy.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. We can only accept complaints from members of the public or their authorised representatives. This means we cannot accept complaints from councillors complaining about something relating to their position as a councillor. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26A, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Complaints about councillor conduct are subject to regulation outlined in the Localism Act 2011 and complaints are dealt with locally by the Monitoring Officer. However, we cannot investigate complaints about councillors from other councillors.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint as it lies outside our jurisdiction.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman