Ombudsman

[Theblip]

Have you or anyone else you know ever complained to the ombudsman about the conduct of your local council, and if so was your complaint successful? Always me a big waste of time and effort with the likelihood of an unfavourable foregone conclusion, but am I wrong?

[barry1010]

Not for the council but twice for energy suppliers, both outcomes in my favour.
What do you want to complain about?

[Arrods]

All I can say is that we took our local council to the Ombudsman (for maladministration) over the granting of planning permission for a neighbour’s building extension. The Ombudsman found in the council’s favour.

Fortunately, we were able to prevent the build by other means.

[Theblip]

I’d love to know what “other means”….

[Arrods]

It was a ‘right to light’ situation, which is separate from planning law. We had to hint at taking out an injunction (expensive if we’d have lost). In the event, the build never happened and the neighbours moved away.

[Peter Pedant]

yeah it depends what about
I ( having a booda in the fambly) that they are not mouth-pieces for er their employers - and do NOT say, "establishment right or wrong - establishment wins and sod the facts!"

bit like a jury - they have independence and show it

Nonetheless ( long word for BUT) - as they said: if they havent paid the rent and look s tho they wont - it is VERY hard to argue that they should stay....

Remember the 'other side' has lots of moolah ( your moolah ) and lawyers and they have to be pretty dur-dur to allow a case they
(think they) will lose to go to the ombudsman

In my case only the ombudsman could order a review beyond six months and I could show the council clerks were - - - lying.
God really? The council made me a grant instead

is this the law thread?
you have to be right - there is a law blah-dee blah-dee blah....

none of this - I am sure there is a law dat is on my side but I dont know where it is and it is SOOOOOO unfair

won two planning appeals - each on - apply the council's own rules and.....
council: oo-er he's right! - - - me well why am I here? - anxious muttering to planning officer

[Hymie]

I had cause to complain to the local government ombudsman with regard my council’s refusal to investigate my complaints of ongoing criminal activity perpetrated by their staff.

The ombudsman ruled that the council had no obligation to investigate my complaints, advising that they should addressed to the police.

[Peter Pedant]

I am a bit surprised by that Hyme-

and presumably you think now - - dont bother.
did you know about the police? or had you tried them as well

the last time I said re an internal private council -the next time this happens I go down to the high court.... they said yeah yeah OK point taken
but it WAS - the president investigating and dismissing a complaint against - - why the president of course. (by me)

very very unwilling to minute it - - "people read these minutes you know!" - - "Good teach you not to do this again"

and they didnt - oh golly - no

[bednobs]

I wonder what would happen if it had been started or finished and the ombudsman ruled in favour of the la?

[bednobs]

Psi think there is a likelihood of an unfavourable (to you) conclusion, but if you have followed the steps you have nothing to lose except good will.

[Peter Pedant]

I was gonna allege perjury at the GMC
but I thought the police would say
"yeah foo dis is domestic innit? come back in four weeks yeah?"
and
the GMC previously had tried to allege perjury for untrue sworn answers in another case ( see Nicolaides v GMC) and were turned down !

[nothing to the common law requirements of natural justice: per Tucker J in R v General. Medical Council, ex parte Kypros Nicolaides [2001]

so the GMC did the case themselves ( charged a doctor with perjury as part of his professional duties of being a doctor - - er excuse me - what did you just say )

law of regulation of professional bodies is a lot of fun
so long as YOU arent the butt of it ( hur hur hur)

[bednobs]

Also the blip to need to really ask yourself honestly if the la have done wrong, or if they just came up with an answer you don'tlike. Perhaps you should engage a planning consultant to look over the plans, minutes and decision and advise you properly if it's worth it

[Hymie]

Since my complaints concerned criminal activity, they were notified to both the council and the police.

The police took a similar attitude to the council; that my complaints of criminal activity by council staff did not require investigation. I complained to the police ombudsman, of the conduct of a particular officer for failing to investigate my reports of criminal activity.

In my complaint to the police ombudsman, I set out the basic facts of the matter, expecting the ombudsman to investigate. The conclusion of the ombudsman’s investigation was that since Hymie did not supply any evidence to support his claim, the matter was found in the Police’s favour.

The ombudsman had not contacted me to ask if I had any evidence to support my claim – this was a lesson to me when dealing with such corrupt officials.

[Atheist]

Do you have evidence of corruption on the Ombudsman's part?

[bednobs]

I have a lot of experience with the phso. I think they more often rule in favour of the health service, but that's probably because people have unrealistic expectations about what they are entitled to on the nhs

[Hymie]

If an organisation (such as an ombudsman service) makes no attempt to determine the facts in a complaint before them, and makes a ruling on this basis; then in my book that organisation is corrupt.

[Atheist]

Hymie, did you read the instructions before contacting the Ombudsman? For example, you didn't use green ink or anything?

[Hymie]

The ombudsman’s ruling made no mention of the colour of ink used in my complaint – only that I did not supply any evidence supporting my claim.

[Atheist]

Hymie, I have a feeling that you need to make a case to the Omudsman, not simply assert something. Of course I don't know your details, but that might be why you didn't get satisfaction.

[Hymie]

If I was to search though the documents on my PC – I suspect that I could find a copy of my complaint to the ombudsman (whenever I have upgraded my PC, I have copied the old PC contents to the new PC – I have letters that I have typed going back to 1997).

Almost certainly that initial contact would have set out the basis for my complaint, PC details, criminal activity reported, dates etc; but no proof – such as copies of letters to/from the police and the fact that the reported crimes had not been recorded or investigated by the police. From memory, about two weeks after my initial complaint to the ombudsman, I received their ruling (with no other contact with the ombudsman).

[Atheist]

Hymie, this case goes back 24 years? And you're still fighting it? Best of luck! Maybe write it off as a disappointment and move forward.