Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint about Council investment as it affects all or most of the people in the Council’s area and so is outside the Ombudsman’s legal remit.

The complaint

1. The complainant, whom I shall call Ms X, complains about a speculative investment by the Council which exposes residents to high levels of debt.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We cannot investigate something that affects all or most of the people in a council’s area. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(7), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I have considered what Ms X said in her complaint.

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What I found

4. Ms X complains the Council has borrowed over £700 million to invest in property. Ms X says this is speculative and exposes residents to large amounts of debt.

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Final decision

5. Ms X’s complaint affects all or most of the people in the Council’s area and is therefore not a complaint we can investigate.

Investigator’s final decision on behalf of the Ombudsman

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman