Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about traffic management works carried out by the Council which Mr X says were unnecessary and wasted public funds. This is because it concerns something that affects all or most of the people in the Council’s area.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council carried out unjustified and unnecessary works at Clevedon seafront which were badly implemented. He says this has led to expensive and flawed reviews which have increased costs rather than addressing the mistakes made and calls into question the Council’s management of public funds.

Back to top

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 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)

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant, including the Council’s response to the complaint.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

Back to top

My assessment

6. The restriction highlighted at paragraph 3 applies to Mr X’s complaint. As the complaint concerns something which affects all or most of the people in the Council’s area, it falls outside our jurisdiction and cannot be investigated.

Back to top

Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it concerns something that affects all or most of the people in the Council’s area.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman