Local Government Ombudsman
Deputy Prime Minister
Written answers and statements, 22 May 2003
Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney, Labour)
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister who investigates complaints about the Local Government Ombudsman; and by what means that body is accountable to Parliament.
Mr Christopher Leslie (Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office; Shipley, Labour)
The Commission for Local Administration in England (the Local Government Ombudsman) is an independent statutory body with powers, set out in the Local Government Act 1974, to investigate complaints made by members of the public about maladministration by local authorities. Sections 28–32 of the Act set out the procedures which the Ombudsman must follow in carrying out his investigations. If an ombudsman fails to carry out his investigations in accordance with the provisions of the Act he may be challenged in the courts.
Funding for the Commission is provided through a deduction from Revenue Support Grant, which is approved by the House of Commons. The National Audit Office has access to the accounts of the Commission.
Annotations
Trevor Nunn
Posted on 2 Nov 2005 12:22 am (Report this annotation)
The answer to the first part of the question is that the Local Government Ombudsman investigates complaints about themselves. How cosy. The answer to the second part is the Local Government Ombudsman is not accountable to Parliament. Don't take my word the organisation Justice says so. As a result we have a Local Government Ombudsman who can do what they want because the are unaccountable.
Eleanor Whitingale
Posted on 2 Nov 2005 11:42 pm (Report this annotation)
Ombudsman can be challenged in the courts? It never works, and it's an expensive way to try and get justice from what is supposed to be a free service there to defend the public, I mean, council staff.
What you mean is judicial review and it just asks the Ombudsman to go away and think again, so he goes away and says yes I got it right, good for me!
Full info on futility of judicial review of LGO is given at http://ombudsmanwatch.org/
LGO Reporter
Posted on 2 Jan 2008 2:48 pm (Report this annotation)
The Local Government Ombudsman is an unaccountable government funded organisation, rotten with corruption. The LGO propose to close an investigation when they have been given clear evidence of maladministration causing injustice. The Local Government Ombudsman does not act in the public interest. The LGO wilfully misrepresent facts, manipulate evidence in favour of the Council, fail to follow their published guidance, and conceal evidence so that they can cover up Council maladministration.
A complainant cannot challenge the decision of the Local Government Ombudsman. A complainant may seek a Judicial Review of the LGO's decision in the High Court, but the High Court cannot overturn the LGO's decision. The High Court can only require the Local Government Ombudsman to reconsider their decision, but the LGO is not obliged to change its initial decision. This ruse, and the cost of High Court action, is used by the LGO to conceal Council maladministration and injustice.
See http://local-government-ombudsman-lgo.blogspot.com/