Select committee chair asks for Government response amid warnings over impact of cuts to Ombudsman funding
The Chair of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee, Clive Betts MP, has raised concerns about government cuts to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's (LGSCO) budget, which saw a 40% reduction between 2010 and 2019.
In a letter to Local Government Minister Lee Rowley, Betts noted that the Ombudsman's budget is set to be reduced by a further 4% by 2024-25.
He highlighted comments made by the former Ombudsman, Michael King, who warned the cuts "could leave the organisation in an untenable position if its funding is not put on a sustainable footing in the next Comprehensive Spending Review".
Betts called on Rowley to outline the Government's assessment of the Ombudsman's funding and what discussions he has had with the Ombudsman regarding its long-term sustainability.
He also asked for the Government to respond to the former Ombudsman's remarks regarding the need to ensure sustainable funding.
Paul Najsarek, the interim Ombudsman, has also highlighted funding problems, noting in July 2023 that resourcing issues had led the Ombudsman to prioritise public interest cases and make it "less likely to carry out investigations into 'borderline' issues".
Remarking on Najsarek's comments, Betts wrote: "It would therefore appear that funding cuts are currently impacting the service which the LGSCO is able to deliver."
The LGSCO's most recent annual report and accounts state that "[w]e have raised our concerns with our sponsor department about the threat to the long-term sustainability of the LGSCO that the current situation already presents, let alone if the prospect of further budget reductions arise".
Betts asked that Rowley respond by 25 September.
On Monday (18 September), the LUHC Committee will hold a pre-appointment hearing for Amerdeep Somal, the Government’s preferred candidate for the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and Chair of the Commission for Local Administration in England.
Adam Carey
