Summary: Mr X complains the Council has no money to function and is not fit for purpose. The Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint because it relates to a matter which affects all or most people in the Council’s area, which means it is out of our jurisdiction.

The complaint

1. The complainant, who I shall refer to as Mr X, complains the Council has no money to function and is not fit for purpose.

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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 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

4. I considered the information submitted by Mr X in support of his complaint.

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What I found

5. Mr X complains the Council has no money to function and is not fit for purpose.
6. The law says the Ombudsman cannot investigate any matter which affects all or most of the people in the Council’s area. Therefore, I cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint.

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Final decision

7. The Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint because it relates to a matter which affects all or most people in the Council’s area, which means it is out of our jurisdiction.

Investigator’s final decision on behalf of the Ombudsman

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman