Summary: We cannot investigate Mr B’s complaint that the Council has wasted public money by appointing an inefficient service provider. This is because the issue Mr B complains about affects all or most people in the Council’s area.

The complaint

1. The complainant, who I will refer to as Mr B, complains about the Council’s decision to appoint an inefficient service provider to run a Council service. Mr B says the Council made this decision without proper competition or scrutiny. Mr B says the Council’s decision will cost local council tax payers.

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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 information provided by Mr B.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Mr B complains that the Council has wasted public money. We cannot investigate complaints about how councils spend public money. This is because such complaints affect all council tax payers in the Council’s area, which is most of the Council’s residents. The law says we cannot investigate complaints that affect all or most of the people in a council’s area.

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Final decision

7. We cannot investigate Mr B’s complaint because the issue he complains about affects all or most of the Council’s residents.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman