Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council priorities special interests over the interest of the public. This is because we cannot achieve the outcome that the complainant seeks.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains that the Council prioritises special interests such as climate change, COVID-19 and the move towards renewable energy over the interests of the general public. Mr X says the Council has failed to protect the protected characteristics of the public such as religious belief. Mr X says the Council’s approach has caused him depression and wants it to change its approach.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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 we cannot achieve the outcome someone wants. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. I will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because we cannot achieve the outcome he seeks, which is for the Council to change its policies. We are not an appeal body and we have no power to instruct the Council to change policies simply because someone disagrees with them. The Council, through its elected members, makes policy. If Mr X thinks a policy is wrong, he could raise this as an issue with his local councillors. It is for the Council, not us, to decide whether to change a policy.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because we cannot achieve the outcome he seeks.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman