Summary: We will not investigate Mr B’s complaint about the Council not investigating his complaint about a parish council. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation. And, we cannot investigate the actions of the parish council.

The complaint

1. Mr B complains about the actions of his local parish council which has not responded to a complaint he has made. Mr B also complains the Council has told him it cannot consider his complaint about the parish council.

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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 investigate complaints about councils and certain other bodies. We cannot investigate the actions of bodies such as town and parish councils. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 25 and 34(1), 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. We do not have the power to investigate complaints about parish councils. So, we cannot investigate Mr B’s complaint about the actions of his local parish council.
7. The Council’s Monitoring Officer can consider a complaint that a Parish Councillor has breached the Code of Conduct for Councillors. But, the Council does not have the power to investigate a complaint about the actions of a parish council. So, there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation into the Council’s handling of Mr B’s concerns.

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Final decision

8. We cannot investigate Mr B’s complaint about the parish council. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation into the Council’s handling of Mr B’s concerns.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman