Wales
<base href="http://t3urednik.sigov.si/varuh-rs/typo3/" />
Commissioner for Local Administration in Wales
Annual Report for 1998/99
The Local Ombudsman for Wales (Commissioner for Local Administration in Wales) on 27th July 1999 published his Annual Report for the year ended 31st March 1999. He received 1,134 complaints during the year, 8.1% more than in the previous year. Nearly a third of the complaints related to town and country planning issues and a further third concerned housing.
In referring to some of the principles of good administrative practice the Welsh Ombudsman stressed the need for local authorities to:
- publish the criteria which they use in exercising their discretionary powers (for example, in awarding grants) so that the public are aware of them;
- apply those criteria consistently and objectively;
- take account of each individual's circumstances, in any event, when applying policies;
- to consult the public on proposals which might adversely affect them;
- remind their members of the importance of observing the National Code of Local Government Conduct and of avoiding any conflict between their private interests and their public role.
Amongst the remedies provided by authorities for injustice caused by maladministration was the spending of approximately L95,000 on providing a barrier to prevent a noise nuisance to residents from a busy highway.
As from 1st July 1999 the Local Ombudsman for Wales' office is to be funded by the new National Assembly for Wales, but the Ombudsman will be independent of the Assembly and any successors will continue to be appointed by the Queen.
The full text of the Annual Report can be found on the worldwide web. The address of the website is http://www.ombudsman-wales.org.
Newsletter No. 19
Commissioner for Local Administration in Wales
Annual Report for 1998/99
The Local Ombudsman for Wales (Commissioner for Local Administration in Wales) on 27th July 1999 published his Annual Report for the year ended 31st March 1999. He received 1,134 complaints during the year, 8.1% more than in the previous year. Nearly a third of the complaints related to town and country planning issues and a further third concerned housing.
In referring to some of the principles of good administrative practice the Welsh Ombudsman stressed the need for local authorities to:
- publish the criteria which they use in exercising their discretionary powers (for example, in awarding grants) so that the public are aware of them;
- apply those criteria consistently and objectively;
- take account of each individual's circumstances, in any event, when applying policies;
- to consult the public on proposals which might adversely affect them;
- remind their members of the importance of observing the National Code of Local Government Conduct and of avoiding any conflict between their private interests and their public role.
Amongst the remedies provided by authorities for injustice caused by maladministration was the spending of approximately L95,000 on providing a barrier to prevent a noise nuisance to residents from a busy highway.
As from 1st July 1999 the Local Ombudsman for Wales' office is to be funded by the new National Assembly for Wales, but the Ombudsman will be independent of the Assembly and any successors will continue to be appointed by the Queen.
The full text of the Annual Report can be found on the worldwide web. The address of the website is http://www.ombudsman-wales.org.
