Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint by a parish council about the Council’s decision to dispose of land which it owned. We have no jurisdiction to investigate complaints by public service bodies.

The complaint

1. The Parish Council complained about the Council’s decision to dispose of land by auction which it says it could have managed as amenity land for residents if the Council had properly engaged with it.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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

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

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My assessment

5. The Parish Council says the Council disposed of land by auction which it says could have been managed as a community asset but no opportunity was given for it to engage with the Council properly.
6. We cannot investigate complaints by an authority constituted for the purposes of the public service and this includes complaints by parish and town councils.

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Final decision

7. We cannot investigate this complaint by a parish council about the Council’s decision to dispose of land which it owned. We have no jurisdiction to investigate complaints by public service bodies.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman