Important Consultation - Extending the remit of the Local Government Ombudsman to larger local councils

DCLG have issued a consultation on whether individuals should be able to refer larger parish councils to the Local Government Ombudsman when they feel let down by that council’s corporate governance. 

NALC has a longstanding position supporting the extension of the remit of the Local Government Ombudsman to all parish and town councils. 

The consultation seeks answers to 5 questions:
Q1. Should the Local Government Ombudsman’s jurisdiction be extended to larger parish and town councils?
Q2. Should a large parish or town council be defined by having a population the same as or greater than 35,000 people, or should the population threshold be set at a different limit?
Q3. Should a large parish or town council be defined by having an annual precept of £1m or more?
Q4. Should a larger parish or town council be defined by both population and budget?
Q5. Once subject to the Local Government Ombudsman’s jurisdiction, should the parish or town council remain so for a fixed time period?

The full consultation is here and it closes on 30th June. 

Please send your responses to these questions to either chris.borg@nalc.gov.uk or DCLG parishconsult@communities.gsi.gov.uk