Darlington Borough Council and the Local Government Ombudsman
Darlington Borough Council invited two persons to provide written questions on a forensic engineering report that they commissioned for the Pedestrian Heart project that was overspent by about £2m above the original contract price of about £5.9m.They provided the written questions but DBC have refused to include them within the background papers of the Resources Scrutiny Committee Meeting of 12th November 2009 although they included their own paperwork for the minutes of the meeting.
It is an understanding that all background papers should be included within the agenda and minutes of the meeting in accordance with the statutory Local Government Act 1972 and DBC's own Constitution.
A complaint has been made to the Local Government Ombudsman but she, Ms Seex, won't uphold the complaint as she says that it affects all of the Darlington residents. But really it only affects the author of the questions who attended the meeting on 12th November 2009.
She won't consider it as being governed by LGA 1972.
So it would appear that Ms Seex thinks that she has the power to choose whether to ignore LGA 1972 or not.
Anon