Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about alleged political campaigning as it is made on behalf of a district council and so not within our remit.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council used public resources to campaign against a district council of which he is a member. Mr X complains the Council has not responded to the standards complaint he made to it about this.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We cannot investigate complaints from public bodies. (Local Government Act 1974, section 27(1)(a), as amended)
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 the complainant.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Mr X complains about the impact on a district council of what he says was political campaigning and complains as part of that council. I consider this complaint is effectively therefore a complaint from a public body and not something we can investigate, as per paragraph two.
7. I recognise Mr X also has concerns about the Council’s use of public resources in this regard, but as this impacts all or most of the people in the Council’s area, we cannot investigate, as per paragraph three.

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Final decision

8. We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint because we cannot investigate complaints from public bodies or complaints that impact all or most of the people in a Council’s area.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman