The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has welcomed the Committee on Standards in Public Life's report on Local Government Ethical Standards.

Michael King, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said:

“We welcome today’s report and support its call for a greater degree of transparency and independent oversight of a strengthened framework for local government ethical standards, particularly in circumstances where it has not been possible to resolve issues at a local level.

“Currently, our role in investigating councillor conduct complaints involves considering how a council has dealt with such complaints. Although we recognise that many complaints are rightly and successfully resolved locally, we have seen some instances of councils unreasonably delaying taking action, failing to take into account relevant information in reaching a decision, or where councils have not had proper procedures in place.

“As the committee has recognised, we have more than 40 years’ experience of investigating most complaints about local authorities and our oversight of the sector as a whole puts us in an ideal position to ensure such independent scrutiny. This possible extension to our role would not only complement our existing work but also help ensure such complaints are dealt with in a proportionate way.

 “Should a decision be made to create a route for councillors who have had a sanction imposed against them to appeal to the Ombudsman, we stand ready to work with the Committee and Government to determine how this might be achieved in practice.”

Article date: 30 January 2019

Date: 30-01-2019

The Role of the Ombudsman

The Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman (NIPSO) provides a free, independent and impartial service for investigating complaints about public service providers in Northern Ireland.

The role of the Ombudsman is set out in the Public Services Ombudsman Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (the 2016 Act). The Ombudsman can normally only accept a complaint after the complaints process of the public service provider has been exhausted.

The Ombudsman may investigate complaints about maladministration on the part of listed authorities. She may also investigate and report on the merits of a decision taken by health and social care bodies, general health care providers and independent providers of health and social care. The purpose of an investigation is to ascertain if the matters alleged in the complaint properly warrant investigation and are in substance true.

Maladministration is not defined in the legislation, but is generally taken to include decisions made following improper consideration, action or inaction; delay; failure to follow procedures or the law; misleading or inaccurate statements; bias; or inadequate record keeping.

Where the Ombudsman finds maladministration or questions the merits of a decision taken in consequence of the exercise of professional judgment she must also consider whether this has resulted in an injustice. Injustice is also not defined in legislation but can include upset, inconvenience, or frustration. The Ombudsman may recommend a remedy where she finds injustice as a consequence of the failings identified in her report.

The Ombudsman has discretion to determine the procedure for investigating a complaint to her Office.

Reporting in the Public Interest

This report is published pursuant to section 44 of the 2016 Act which allows the Ombudsman to publish an investigation report when it is in the public interest to do so.

The Ombudsman has taken into account the interests of the person aggrieved and other persons prior to publishing this report.

La Secretaría de Estado de Universidades ha aceptado una recomendación del Defensor del Pueblo (e.f.), Francisco Fernández Marugán, para que las víctimas de violencia de género que se matriculen en la Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED) no tengan que pagar los precios universitarios.

La Institución recomendó reconocer la condición de víctima de violencia machista como causa de exención o bonificación en la normativa que fija anualmente los precios públicos por servicios académicos universitarios en la UNED.

Antes de realizar esta recomendación, el Defensor del Pueblo había analizado las previsiones de exención de precios públicos académicos y los colectivos que se veían beneficiados por ellas, llegando a la conclusión de que la mayor parte de las universidades coincide en los términos en los que prevén estas exenciones.

En este sentido, la Institución pudo comprobar que muchas comunidades autónomas ya contemplan en sus normas la exención de pago para las víctimas de violencia de género y otras lo están estudiando. Por este motivo, el Defensor mantiene un especial seguimiento ante las administraciones implicadas para que expresamente se reconozca en la normativa que fija anualmente los precios públicos esta causa concreta de exención.

La Secretaría de Estado de Universidades ha aceptado la recomendación asegurando que será efectiva en el curso 2019-2020.

Apoyo incondicional a las víctimas

Fernández Marugán ha reiterado su apoyo incondicional a las mujeres víctimas de violencia machista y a sus hijas e hijos. Por este motivo, desde la Institución se presta especial atención a la defensa de los derechos de estas mujeres y de sus hijas e hijos.

Así, por ejemplo, el Defensor, convencido de que “un maltratador nunca puede ser un buen padre”, ha abogado por un cambio legislativo en dos cuestiones. Ha pedido que cuando se dicte una orden de alejamiento a un hombre, respecto de una mujer, se suspenda también el régimen de visitas de los hijos e hijas. Además, en su opinión, también es necesario que la valoración del riesgo que realiza la policía, cuando una mujer denuncia maltrato, lleve aparejada una valoración específica de la situación de riesgo de sus hijas e hijos.