Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (19 004 414)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Elections and electoral register 08-Aug-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint about a court fine the complainant received in 2013 for failing to register to vote. This is because the Ombudsman cannot investigate anything that has been considered in court or forms part of legal proceedings. In addition, part of the complaint is late.

Rother District Council (19 004 176)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Elections and electoral register 18-Jun-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint that he was not able to vote in local elections because the Council failed to arrange his postal vote. The complaint is outside the Ombudsman’s legal remit as the Council is not responsible for the organisation of elections. The Returning Officer organises elections and in this role, works in a personal capacity, not on behalf of the Council.

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council (19 002 978)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Elections and electoral register 04-Jun-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint that he was not able to vote in the European elections as his proxy vote was not arranged in time. The complaint is outside the Ombudsman’s legal remit as the Council is not responsible for the organisation of elections.

Peterborough City Council (19 000 497)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Elections and electoral register 30-May-2019

Summary: Mr B complains that the Council is at fault for failing to remove reference to an incident he was involved in from its Prime database. The Ombudsman will not investigate the complaint because an investigation is unlikely to lead to a different outcome and Mr B can take the matter to the Information Commissioner.

Wokingham Borough Council (19 002 522)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Elections and electoral register 29-May-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council sought to manipulate local elections through a newspaper advertisement and by opening a building site up to the public for one day during the purdah period. Mr X is not caused a significant, personal injustice from his complaints and the Ombudsman’s involvement is not therefore warranted.

Selby District Council (19 002 902)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Elections and electoral register 28-May-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about a document which listed candidates for the European elections. The organisation of elections is the responsibility of the Returning Officer who acts in a personal capacity and not on behalf of the Council. The complaint is therefore outside our legal remit.

Bath and North East Somerset Council (19 000 985)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Elections and electoral register 26-Apr-2019

Summary: Mrs A complains that her son’s school is due to be closed for the day whilst it is used as an election polling station. The Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint. This is because decisions on polling stations are the responsibility of the Returning Officer, which is not an administrative function of the Council, and decisions on school closures are an internal matter for the school. Both functions fall outside the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction.