The Local Government Ombudsman

Complaint about the council?

How to complain

There is information in languages other than English on how to make a complaint.

Councils’ performance

An A-Z index of councils’ annual performance on dealing with complaints to the LGO.

Council Annual Letters

What We Do

The Local Government Ombudsmen investigate complaints about councils and certain other bodies.

They investigate complaints about most council matters including housing, planning, education and social services.

It is an independent, impartial and free service. The Ombudsmen can investigate complaints about how the council has done something.

But they cannot question what a council has done simply because someone does not agree with it.

Call the LGO Advice Team on 0845 602 1983 for advice or to make a complaint by telephone

Publications

Our publications can be found under the Publication Scheme

Training

For information on the courses we run for local authorities on handling complaints, click here. For information on a new course we are running for lawyers on the role of the LGO, click here.

Ombudsmen News

23rd December 2008
Faulty vehicle access consent cost nearly £30,000
Luton Borough Council granted consent for a vehicle access to a couple's home without properly considering the legal and safety issues, and then withdrew it, finds Local Government Ombudsman, Jerry White. In his report, issued tod...

23rd December 2008
Bailiff action on fines motorists had already paid
Bailiffs visited a motorist in the early hours of the morning and clamped his car in pursuit of a penalty, even though he produced evidence that he had already paid, finds Local Government Ombudsman, Tony Redmond. In his report, i...

22nd December 2008
Council criticised over countryside development
Easington District Council’s handling of a new countryside development caused a woman to suffer nuisance from traffic, finds Local Government Ombudsman, Anne Seex. In her report, issued today (22 December 2008) she says the Counci...

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