Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s use of taxpayer money to meet its own net zero targets, when he already contributes towards net zero through the government’s initiatives. This is because the law does not allow us to investigate issues which affect all or most of the people in a council’s area.

The complaint

1. The complainant, Mr X, complains the Council is illegally spending taxpayer money on its ‘net zero’ policy when the government has its own net zero goals. Mr X believes residents are effectively being charged twice for the same thing.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. We cannot investigate something that affects all or most of the people in a council’s area. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(7), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by Mr X and the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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Final decision

5. We cannot investigate this complaint. Mr X’s injustice relates to the money he pays to the council as council tax. He is affected by the issue only as a council tax payer and the use of public funds in this way is an issue which affects all or most of the people in its area. It is not therefore subject to investigation, as set out at Paragraph 3.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman