AI Strategy Purpose To make use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in line with the principles set out below, to position us to empower all LGSCO staff and increase our capacity to remedy injustice as effectively as possible. Vision Our vision is for AI based technology to be a tool that helps us improve the services we provide in a way that is responsible, fair and easily understood by all. We aim ...

Council wrongly decides elderly woman had spent her money to avoid paying care fees North Yorkshire County Council stopped paying for an elderly woman’s care home after it decided she gave away money to avoid paying the fees, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found. Following an investigation, the Ombudsman is now asking the council to reassess the woman’s finances and repay her ...

Memorial safety in cemeteries This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who believe that there has been some fault in the way the council has gone about laying memorials flat and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. When I made my yearly visit to my mother's grave I was shocked to find the memorial laid flat and a notice telling me to contact the council. Can the Ombudsman h ...

Industrial Action This factsheet is aimed primarily at people who have suffered a loss of service because of industrial (strike) action and who are thinking about making a complaint to us, or who have already registered a complaint. What is industrial action? For the purposes of this factsheet, we have used the term ‘industrial action’ to refer to workers going on strike due to disputes with thei ...

Financial regulations Contents: Chapter index for Financial regulations Updated: 23 March 2026 Financial regulations search Search this content Submit search Part 2 • Accounting Regulations 10. Accounting The Commission maintains proper accounting records and produces financial statements in accordance with the Framework Document and the Government Financial Reporting Manual issued by the Treasur ...

Trading standards This fact sheet is aimed primarily at anyone who is dissatisfied with the way a council’s trading standards office has dealt with their complaint about a trader, or the way in which a council has carried out its investigative, monitoring and enforcement work, and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. A local trader has broken consumer protection law and I have ...

Moving traffic offences This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who have concerns about a penalty charge notice (PCN) issued by enforcing authorities and who may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. I have received a penalty charge notice for a moving traffic offence. Can the Ombudsman help me? Transport for London (TfL) and councils both inside and outside London may enforce ...

Delayed entry for summer-born children This fact sheet is aimed primarily at parents of summer-born children who want to complain to the Ombudsman about a decision by a council or other admission authority to refuse their request to delay their child’s entry to reception until compulsory school age. A summer-born child is one with a birthday between 1 April and 31 August inclusive. Background The ...

Commissioner and senior staff profiles The Commission Picture Member biography Amerdeep Clarke Amerdeep Clarke Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman & Chair of the Commission Amerdeep joined us in February 2024, taking on the role of Ombudsman alongside her positions as Board Chair of the Law Society and as a Judge of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (not currently sitting). Amerdeep brin ...

Taxi and private hire vehicle licensing This fact sheet is aimed at people who are concerned that the council is not taking appropriate action over issues relating to taxis and private hire vehicles and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. I am unhappy with the way the council has handled my concerns about taxi or private hire vehicle licensing. Can the Ombudsman help me? We ca ...