Extract from:

Minutes of the meeting of the Commission

held at 21 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9BU

on Thursday 4 October 2001 at 10.30am

Present: Mrs P A Thomas (Acting Chairman)

Mr M S Buckley

Mr J R White

In attendance: Mr R A Harrison

Mr N H Jones

Mr N J Karney

Mr P J MacMahon

Ms D de Haes, KPMG (item 3)

Mr D Reeson, KPMG (item 3)

Mr A L Creech

Mrs Thomas said that, when Mr Redmond took up his position on 12 November, it would be necessary to make arrangements for another Local Government Ombudsman to deal with cases arising in the London Borough of Harrow. Mr White AGREED to accept complaints against the London Borough of Harrow with effect from 12 November 2001, in accordance with the arrangements approved by the Commission in December 1996 under Section 23(10) of the Local Government Act 1974 to transfer cases between Local Commissioners.

Mrs Thomas said that Mr Redmond had indicated that he had personal contacts with the Chief Executives of a number of other London Boroughs, and he had wondered whether this also had implications for his role as Local Government Ombudsman. The Commission AGREED to consider this point at its meeting on 13 November.