The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about how the Council allocates money that it obtains through council tax charges. This is because the law does not allow us to investigate complaints about matters that affect all the people who live in its area.
The complaint
Mrs X says the Council are at fault because it does not ring fence money it obtains through council tax revenue, specifically second home premiums, for re-investment toward her local town. Mrs X wants the Council to use this money to secure affordable homes in her area.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
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)
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant and I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
Final decision
We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint because it relates to matters affecting how the Council spends council tax money, which affects all of the people in its area and the law does not allow us to investigate those type of complaints.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman