Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about information the Council provided during court proceedings. This is because the law prevents us from investigating complaints about what happens in court.

The complaint

1. Miss X complains a report the Council filed with the family court contained inaccurate information.
2. Miss X says this caused distress.
3. Miss X wants the Council to correct the information she regards as inaccurate.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

4. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
5. We cannot investigate a complaint about the start of court action or what happened in court. (Local Government Act 1974, Schedule 5/5A, paragraph 1/3, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

6. I considered information provided by Miss X and the Council.
7. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because the law prevents us from investigating what happens in court. This includes the preparation and contents of reports that councils present during proceedings. 

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman