Top tips for making a complaint about local authorities Before we can look at your complaint, you must complain to the organisation involved and give it a chance to sort out your problem. These tips will help make that process easier for you and the person dealing with your complaint. Some organisations encourage you to tell them about your issue before making a formal complaint. This could be th ...

Complaints about how your planning application is dealt with This fact sheet is aimed primarily at planning applicants who have concerns about the way the council has dealt with their planning application and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. I have a problem with my application for planning permission - can the Ombudsman help me? In many cases, no. This is because, by law, ...

General planning advice (complaints about) This fact sheet is aimed mainly at people who have received advice from the council about planning matters and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. I asked the council if I could object to the works happening across the road. The council said the works did not need planning permission. I do not think this is right. Can the Ombudsman he ...

Section 106 agreements (planning obligations) This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who have concerns about the way a section 106 agreement (or planning obligation) has been considered or enforced. It provides some guidance for people who may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. What are section 106 agreements? New development can place extra burdens on the existing infrastr ...

Top tips for making a complaint about care providers Before we can look at your complaint, you must complain to the care provider involved and give it a chance to fix the problem. These tips will help make that process easier for you and the person dealing with your complaint. You should give the care provider a chance to fix the problem before you make a complaint. This can be the quickest way t ...

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 ...

Children's support services This fact sheet is aimed primarily at parents, carers and young people who have a problem with a children’s support services and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. I am dissatisfied with the outcome of my complaint about children's support services. How can the Ombudsman help me? If you’ve made a complaint and the council has looked into it, but yo ...

Exclusion from a school This fact sheet is aimed primarily at parents whose child has been permanently excluded from school and who may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. My child has been excluded from school. Can I complain to the Ombudsman? In most cases, yes, though we cannot look at any actions by the school, including its decision to exclude your child, or the governors’ de ...

Listed buildings This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who believe the council has failed to take account of a listed building when dealing with a planning application and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. The council has not properly taken into account the fact that a building is listed when considering an application for planning permission. Can the Ombudsman help m ...

Parks, gardens, playing fields and sportsgrounds This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who live near or use council parks, gardens, playing fields and sports grounds and who may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. I have a problem with the decisions the council has made about our local park/garden/playing field. Can the Ombudsman help? In some cases, yes. There are some mat ...