Local Government Ombudsman
Deputy Prime Minister
Written answers and statements, 13 December 2004
Mr Bill O'Brien (Normanton, Labour)
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which body is responsible for dealing with complaints of maladministration against the local government ombudsman.
Mr Nick Raynsford (Minister of State (Local and Regional Government), Office of the Deputy Prime Minister; Greenwich & Woolwich, Labour)
The Local Government Act 1974 sets out the procedures which the Commission for Local Administration in England (the local government ombudsman) must follow in carrying out his investigations. Anyone who has a concern about the outcome of their complaint to the ombudsman, or the manner in which their complaint has been dealt with by the ombudsman's staff, can contact the ombudsman's office. The matter will then be considered by a senior member of staff, usually the deputy ombudsman. If the concern is about the actions of the ombudsman himself then the matter would be considered by the ombudsman. If he is unable to satisfy the concern raised, then the complainant can pursue in the courts an allegation of failure to carry out an investigation in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
Annotations
Trevor Nunn
Posted on 1 Nov 2005 11:57 pm (Report this annotation)
Can anyone think of another organisation where you have to complain to the person you are complaining about. I did what Nick Raynsford said and the Ombudsman refused to uphold my complaint about themselves. Why should I pursue an action in court, the Ombudsman is supposed to be an alternative to court. Other Ombudsmen have external complaints procedures so why not the Local Government Ombudsman?
Colin Cole
Posted on 6 Nov 2005 3:41 pm (Report this annotation)
Didn't The Queen of Hearts have a similar system going . . in Alice in Wonderland . . . if you go to the bottom of my own web page http://www.croydoncouncil.info/page29.html . See the appalling case of Maurice and Audrey Balchin. They had to fight for 20 years . . . The Ombudsman, both of em . . . TWICE found in the favour of their respective charges . . but it took The High Court to find them wrong for the THIRD time before they would ALL accept liability . . . and you seriously expected them to uphold your complaint? . . . OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL? you'd have more chance going down that rabbit hole Trev. . . . Colin
Colin Cole
Posted on 8 Nov 2005 5:00 pm (Report this annotation)
Further to my comments above . . I have also lodged a complaint against the Local Government Ombudsman in a similar fashion to Trevor . . . coming from someone who has just been AWARDED a finding of maladminstration AGAINST Croydon Council one might suppose The LGO is dismayed somewhat . . especially as it seems very keen in trumpeting their so called 'successes' . . the case I outline above for instance is at present proudly displayed on their front page at the moment . . . . . I hope they are dismayed . . they should be . . . see my complaint against Gerry White LGO on http://www.croydoncouncil.info/page36.html
Pablo Titchall
Posted on 1 Dec 2005 11:54 am (Report this annotation)
The information the Minister requires can be found at http://ukombudsman.org/ and additionaly at http://localgovernmentombudsman.org/ under the link MP'S Questions.
LGO Reporter
Posted on 2 Jan 2008 2:08 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. The result is underreporting of cases of maladministration, and an injustice to the complainant.
See this link http://local-government-ombudsman-lgo.blogspot.com/