Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s processes for the determination of applications by its planning committee. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. It is also not for Mr X or for us to set policies for issues such as the length of committee reports and the conduct of committee meetings.

The complaint

1. The complainant, Mr X, complains the Council’s planning committee is not fit for purpose. He says that as a result planning decisions are based on incomplete or incorrect information and have no reasonable prospect of being challenged by members of the public.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse effect on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start an investigation if the tests set out in our Assessment Code are not met. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by Mr X the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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Final decision

4. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint. This is because it does not meet the tests set out in our Assessment Code.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman