Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the alleged misuse of taxpayer money. This is because we have no legal jurisdiction to investigate a complaint that affects all or most of the people living in a council’s area.

The complaint

1. The complainant (Mr W) is complaining about the way a large sum of money was given by the Council to a company in 2013. He says an officer of the Council has repeatedly misled councillors about this. In summary, Mr W says the alleged fault has financially deprived all taxpayers to the Council. He wants the Council to investigate the use of this money.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We cannot investigate an action that we decide affects all or most of the people living in a councils area. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(7), as amended).

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council. I also considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

4. Mr W is complaining about the expenditure of taxpayer money by the Council in 2013. He says this is a misuse of taxpayer money. In my view, Mr W’s complaint is about an issue which affects all taxpayers in the Council’s area. We have no legal jurisdiction to investigate a complaint in these circumstances and the restriction I outcome at Paragraph 2 (above) applies.

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Final decision

5. We cannot investigate this complaint as we have no jurisdiction to investigate a matter which affects all or most of the people living in a council’s area.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman