Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about a decision made by the Council relating to school transport routes. This is because the complaint is made on behalf of a public body.

The complaint

1. The complainant, Mr X, complains that the Council made a decision on school transport routes based on misleading information.

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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 complaints from public bodies. (Local Government Act 1974, section 27(1)(a), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

6. Mr X says he attended a meeting of the Council’s Executive on behalf of a Parish Council. He complains that the Executive made a decision regarding school transport routes based on misleading and incomplete information. He says the decision will create anxiety for residents of the Parish, and the Parish Council wants the matter to be reconsidered on the basis of accurate information.
7. The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint. We consider complaints made by members of the public. By law, we cannot consider complaints made by or on behalf of a public body, such as a parish council. Mr X says that he attended the meeting of the Council’s Executive in the capacity of the Parish Council’s representative, and it is in this capacity that he complains to the Ombudsman. This places the matter outside our jurisdiction and we cannot investigate it.

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Final decision

8. We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is made on behalf of a public body.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman