QUOTE (gel @ Nov 25 2014, 06:29 PM)
Looks hopeful, but no. Regulation 7. applies to decisions made by officers, not to the decisions made by committees. As far as I can see there is no free-standing duty on a parish council to give a reason for their decision.
If a decision looks unlawful, or capricious, or vindictive then the only recourse is a Judicial Review, and that's out of the question for someone like myself and really only an option if you're independently wealthy or being supported by some kind of special-interest group.
The decisions of Parish and Town Council are also not within the scope of the Local Government Ombudsman to challenge. There is still some recourse to the district council if the councillors individually are breaking the code of conduct, but not for their collective decisions.
So ordinary schmos like ourselves get the justice we're given, and we rely on town and parish council's choosing to do the right thing, and if they choose to abuse their positions then your only hope is that someone on the inside blows the whistle.