| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Head of Legal Services refuses to pass Formal Complaint on | |
| Posted by: | Kieren A Wroblewski | |
| Date/Time: | 28/09/13 16:31:00 |
There is one aspect of a complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman that you MUST be aware of before pinning all your hopes on him/her intervening. The Ombudsman is concerned with the PROCESS, not the OUTCOME of the process. This is why Ealing Council loves the ombudsman. All it has to show is that the correct process was followed: the complaints guidelines, timely responses, appropriate consultation, not the decision at the end of the process was right. This is why many complaints end up before both the Ombudsman and in front of the English High Courts. The Ombudsman cannot judge the quality of the outcome, only the processes used by the Local Council in reaching the decision: i.e. not WHAT the judge decided, but rather was s/he wearing the right wig at that particular moment. The High Court is the correct and proper place to challenge the decision. KW |