Summary: We will not investigate this complaint made by a town council about a the Council’s decision not to continue with an experimental traffic order. The complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. We cannot investigate complaints made by public bodies including town councils.

The complaint

1. Mrs X is a town councillor. She complains a councillor failed to follow the correct process when they decided not to continue with an experimental traffic order.
2. She says this means:
• a democratic town council decision is ignored
• town council money is wasted
• a scheme that could support of the town centre cannot go ahead; and
• challenges faced by the town council are more desperate.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
4. 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

5. I considered information provided by Mrs X and the Council.
6. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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Final decision

7. We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint because the complaint is made on behalf of the town council and the claimed injustice is attributed to the town council. Complaints made by public bodies including town councils are outside our jurisdiction.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman