The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s management of revenue from taxi licensing as this is best dealt with by the Council’s external auditor; we cannot achieve the outcome the complainant seeks.
The complaint
Mr X complained the Council is not ring-fencing revenue it generates from taxi licensing for the industry, to provide value for money for taxi drivers. Mr X wants an external body to audit the relevant Council accounts.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide there is another body better placed to consider this complaint (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
The National Audit Office is the UK’s independent public spending watchdog. It advises that complaints about a council’s accounts or alleged misuse of public money should be made to that council’s appointed, external auditor. Mr X is therefore best placed to approach that body with his complaint. We cannot audit the Council’s accounts and cannot achieve the outcome Mr X seeks.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is best dealt with by the Council’s auditor.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman