Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mrs B’s complaint about the way the Fire and Rescue Service (F&RS) has managed its resources. This is because Mrs B is complaining in her capacity as a parish councillor.

The complaint

1. Mrs B complains the Fire and Rescue Service (F&RS) sold one of its vehicles. Mrs B says the service should have kept the smaller vehicle as it said it would when it replaced it with a larger Rapid Intervention Vehicle (RIV) as it can reach places the larger vehicle cannot.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We can only accept complaints from members of the public or their authorised representatives. This means we cannot accept complaints from councillors complaining about something relating to their position as a councillor. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26A, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered the information and documentation Mrs B provided. I sent Mrs B a copy of my draft decision for comment.

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What I found

4. Mrs B says the F&RS should have kept a vehicle it sold for access to areas the larger vehicle cannot reach. Mrs B is concerned about matters which may or may not affect her or others in future. The Ombudsman cannot consider complaints of injustice which has not yet happened, so even if Mrs B was complaining as a member of the public, there is nothing for the Ombudsman to investigate.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman