1Background
The Local Government Ombudsman
1.The Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) was established by the Local Government Act 1974 to investigate complaints from members of the public about local authority functions and services and to provide advice and guidance on good administrative practice and improve local service delivery. The founding legislation created the Commission for Local Administration in England (CLAE) as the host body for the Local Government Ombudsman scheme and provided that the Secretary of State should designate a Local Government Ombudsman as the Chair of the Commission.
2.The Commission consists of:
- The Local Government Ombudsman as Chair;
- The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (ex officio member); and
- Three advisory members.
3.It is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG or the Department). The appointment of the LGO is subject to a pre-appointment hearing.
The recruitment process
4.The term of office of the current Local Government Ombudsman, Dr Jane Martin, ends on 10 January 2017. The post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA). The appointment is for a fixed seven-year term. The pay range is £120–140,000.
5.The panel responsible for the sifting and interview of candidates consisted of:
- Olivia Grant OBE (Chair), Public Appointment Assessor;
- Jacinda Humphry, Finance Director, DCLG;
- Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive, Local Government Association; and
- Lewis Shand Smith, Chief Ombudsman, Ombudsman Services.
6.The Department used the following channels and networks to advertise the role at no cost:
- the Cabinet Office Public Appointments website;
- the Commission for Local Administration in England’s website;
- the Centre for Public Appointments Newsletter;
- the Directors Online Network;
- Non-Executive Directors (NEDs);
- the Ombudsman Association website;
- the Judicial Office; and
- the Departments of Health and for Education.
7.To encourage applications from a wide field and maximise the potential for diversity, the Department also used the following networks to advertise the role:
- Civil Service Race Forum;
- Women on Boards;
- Pink Shoe Club;
- The Government Equalities Office.
8.In addition, the Department advertised the role in the Times and Sunday Times online, to reach a broad and diverse senior appointment audience across the country.
9.Eight applications were received (five men and three women). Each candidate supplied a CV and a covering letter which provided examples of his or her ability to meet the criteria in the role and person specification. The panel undertook the sift on 11 July and selected a shortlist of five for interview. The interviews took place on 9 and 12 August, and consisted of a competency based interview lasting 45 minutes. Two candidates were deemed appointable by the panel. The Secretary of State met the appointable candidates on 15 September and recommended his preferred candidate to the Prime Minister. We were given the name of the approved candidate on 10 October, and the Department plans to seek the Royal Warrant after publication of our report. The candidate’s appointment is expected to begin on 11 January 2017, the day after the end of the current LGO’s term of office.
2 November 2016