Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a planning committee meeting held by the Borough Council. This is because the complainant does not complain as a member of the public, because she is complaining on behalf of the Parish Council.

The complaint

1. The complainant, who I will call Ms X, is the chair of a Parish Council. She is being represented by Cllr Z, who is a Councillor on the same Parish Council. Ms X complains on behalf of the Parish Council, about a planning committee meeting held by the Borough 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 can only accept complaint from members of the public or their authorised representatives. This means we cannot accept complaints from councillors complaining about something relating to their position as a councillor. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26A, as amended)
4. We cannot investigate complaints from public bodies. (Local Government Act 1974, section 27(1)(a), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

7. I cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint. This is because we can only accept complaints from members of the public or their authorised representatives. Ms X is not raising her complaint as a member of the public, instead she is doing so on behalf of the Parish Council, which is a public body.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because she does not complain as a member of the public.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman