Summary: We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the preparation and contents of a Section 7 report that the Council presented to a court. The law prevents us from investigating what happens during court proceedings.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complains about the contents and preparation of a Section 7 report that the Council produced during proceedings in the Family Court.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. 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

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

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My assessment

6. We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Section 7 report that the Council presented to the courts. The report forms part of court proceedings. We have no power to investigate any matters related to its contents or preparation.

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Final decision

We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because it is about what happened in court.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman