Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint that the Council is wasting public money. This is because this issue affects all or most of the people in the Council’s area.

The complaint

1. Ms B complains the Council is making poor spending decisions and is wasting public money.

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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. The Act says 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 Ms B.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. We cannot investigate a complaint that a council is wasting public money. This is because this issue affects all council tax payers, which is most people in a council’s area. We cannot investigate something that affects all or most of the people in a council’s area.
7. So, we cannot investigate this complaint.

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Final decision

8. We cannot investigate Ms B’s complaint because the issue affects all or most of the people in the Council’s area.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman