Published 8 January 2010
Dr Jane Martin has been appointed as a Local Government Ombudsman by Her Majesty The Queen following the recommendation of the Communities Secretary John Denham.
Dr Martin will take up her new post on 11 January 2010 when she will also succeed Jerry White, who retired in September, as Vice Chair of the Commission for Local Administration in England.
Dr Martin was the first Ombudsman candidate to have a pre-appointment hearing with the Communities and Local Government Select Committee to discuss her suitability for the role and her key priorities, as part of the comprehensive selection process.
The Minister for Local Government, Rosie Winterton MP said:
"I am delighted that Jane Martin has been appointed as a Local Government Ombudsman, and that she has been designated as Vice Chair of the Commission for Local Administration.
"The Local Government Ombudsman has a vital role to play in ensuring that people get swift and fair redress if things go wrong in the delivery of their local services.
"Dr Martin's knowledge and experience will be a significant addition to the Commission at a time when its jurisdiction is expanding to include schools and adult social care."
Notes to editors
1. Dr Jane Martin was Director of Policy & Engagement and Deputy Chief Executive at the Local Better Regulation Office. Jane began her career in local government in 1999 as an Education Officer for Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council before continuing her career in the public sector by taking on roles such as the Executive Director at the Centre for Public Scrutiny and Director of Patient-Citizen Exchange for the NHS Centre for Involvement. Prior to her move into the public sector she had an academic career at The University of Birmingham and, more recently, was a senior research fellow in public leadership at Warwick Business School.
2. The Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) was set up by the Local Government Act 1974. This empowered the LGO to conduct investigations into complaints from members of the public who consider they have suffered injustice as a result of maladministration by bodies within their jurisdiction.
3. Currently, the Ombudsmen are Tony Redmond and Anne Seex. Jerry White, who was the third Ombudsman for England, retired at the end of September. Dr Jane Martin replaces him as Ombudsman.
4. The objective of the Ombudsmen is to secure, where appropriate, satisfactory redress for complainants and better administration for the authorities. Since 1989, the Ombudsmen have had power to issue advice on good administrative practice in local government based on experience derived from their investigations.
5. In 2008-2009 the LGO decided on over 17,000 complaints. Where remedies and settlements resulted in a payment being made, the amount of compensation obtained or recommended came to over £2.2m. All complaints go to the LGO Advice Team based at their Coventry office.
6. In accordance with the Local Government Act 1974 Ombudsmen are appointed by The Queen, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of State. The appointment process has been run in accordance with guidelines issued by the Office for the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The post was advertised publicly in May of this year and as well as seeking the views of the Local Government Association about the appointment, we also sought the views of the Audit Commission, the Government's Equalities Office and the Women's National Commission. Following this process Jane Martin was chosen by Communities Secretary, John Denham, to recommend to The Queen for appointment to the post of Local Government Ombudsman.
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