Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about a delay in elections as the complainant is not caused any significant injustice from his complaint as this matter impacts all or most of the people in the Council’s area.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained about a proposal to cancel local elections. Mr X considers they should be held as he is concerned about accountability at the local level.

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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 the complainant and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Local elections in the Council’s area have been postponed as the Council is involved in the Government’s devolution programme. The final decision on whether elections could be postponed was made by the Government.
7. The postponement of elections impacts all or most of the people in the Council’s area, and Mr X is not caused any more or less injustice from this matter than any other resident. As such, this complaint is not within our legal remit.
8. We have no remit to investigate Government decisions.
9. For these reasons, we cannot investigate.

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Final decision

10. We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint because it impacts all or most of the people in the Council’s area and so is not within our remit.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman