Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the content of a court report or the Council’s refusal to take a complaint about it.

The complaint

1. Ms X said the Council wrongly refused to accept her complaint about the content of a court report.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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

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

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My assessment

5. A s.7 report ordered by a court in a custody case is part of court proceedings.

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Final decision

6. We cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint because the report about which she complains is part of the court process. Whether the Council accepts her complaint about it is not separable from that.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman