Overview
The complainant (Mr C) raised a number of concerns that North Ayrshire Council (the Council) Trading Standards officers had provided incorrect information to two newspapers about their involvement in a dispute he had with one of his customers. He considered that any discussion on the matter between Council officials and the press also amounted to a breach of his confidentiality. He further complained that Council officials had repeatedly and deliberately misled him and provided incorrect and incomplete answers to his questions and complaints to cover-up certain actions of the Trading Standards officer who had discussed the complaint about his building firm with the press.
Specific complaints and conclusion
The complaint which has been investigated is that;
- (a) Council officials did not respond adequately to Mr C's representation to them about alleged breaches of confidentiality by one of their officers (upheld); and
- (b) Council staff lied to Mr C about staff contacts with journalists. Mr C considers that there has been an abuse of power (not upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman had already made informal recommendations to the Council which were accepted and acted on by them. Consequently, the Ombudsman has no further recommendations to make.