Who has the final decision on council member removals?

The final decision on council member removals is typically made by the ombudsman after a recommendation from the council. This process allows the council to assess the situation and propose a removal based on their collective judgment, ensuring that the council has a role in determining whether a member should be removed. The ombudsman's position is designed to provide an impartial review of the council's recommendation, which can help ensure that the decision is made fairly and in accordance with relevant laws or guidelines.

The involvement of the ombudsman serves as a check and balance, adding an additional layer of oversight to the process. This mechanism helps maintain integrity within council operations, as it prevents potential abuses of power by requiring an external body to evaluate the council's decisions.