SPSO/Committee Role
About the SPSO
The final stage for complaints about councils, the NHS, housing associations, colleges and universities, prisons, most water and sewerage providers, the Scottish Government and most Scottish authorities.
The LGR Committee’s role
To scrutinise the SPSO function by consideration of the SPSO’s annual report and related strategic documents.
SPSO Annual Report 2014/15
SPSO Annual Report 2013/14
On 1 October 2014 the Committee wrote to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman ('SPSO') to invite them to appear before the Local Government and Regeneration Committee on 7 January 2015. In the letter the Committee outlined its approach to the scrutiny of the 2013/14 SPSO Annual Report.
Folwing the session with the Committee on 9 January 2015, the SPSO wrote to the Committee. That letter and the Committee's reponse can be found here:
Call for Questions
On 29 October 2014 the Committee launched its call for questions to be put to the SPSO at its meeting on 7 January 2015. Please read the document below for more information. The closing date to submit questions to the Committee was Monday 8 December 2014.
The Committee received over 35 questions from members of the public:
Prior to the meeting the SPSO responded to the Committees invititation with background informaiton, you can read the letter below:
SPSO Annual Report 2012/13
On 11 December 2013, the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (“SPSO”) and members of his senior staff appeared before the Local Government and Regeneration Committee.
The Call for Questions closed 25 November 2013:
The Committee received over 40 questions from members of the public:
Follow Up Questions
Following the meeting, on 11 December 2013, the Committee requested written answers to public questions that were not asked during the meeting as well as requesting further details and clarification on information brought out at the meeting itself.
Adittional work/correspondence
The Committee requested further information on the local authority Complaint Handlers Network from the following councils: Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Dumfries and Galloway, Falkirk, Moray, Orkney Islands, and Shetland Islands. The following letter was sent to each council Chief Executive:
The Committee requested further information on using complaints to identify systematic failings in local authority from the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers (SOLACE):
The Presiding Officer wrote to the Committee following its letter in January 2015