Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about how the Council awarded a grant from public funds as this impacts all or most of the people in the Council’s area and as such, is outside our remit.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains about a grant the Council awarded to a committee of people that organise a local event. Mr X says there is a family connection between the committee and Council members, and that taxpayers’ money was given away without due diligence and scrutiny. Mr X says this is unjust.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We cannot investigate an action that we decide affects all or most of the people living in an organisation’s area. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(7), as amended)
3. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. I recognise Mr X’s strong feelings about the matter but how the Council spends public funds impacts on all or most of the people in the Council’s area. The law says we cannot investigate such complaints, as per paragraph two. I do not consider Mr X is significantly impacted more or less than any other resident in the Borough.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because the injustice claimed impacts all or most of the people in the Council’s area and the matter is therefore outside our remit.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman