Summary: We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint made on behalf of a school governing body about the Council’s actions regarding a student in the school. This is because we cannot investigate complaints from a public body.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complains in her capacity as a chair of school governors and on behalf of the governing body about the Council’s actions relating to a student with special educational needs who attends the school.

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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 Mrs X.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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Final decision

6. We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint because it has been made on behalf of a public body thereby placing it outside our jurisdiction.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman