This publication contains reports by both the UK Parliamentary Ombudsman and the Local Government Ombudsman into the behaviour of the Department of Transport and Norfolk County Council in relation to the Councils refusal to purchase the house of Mr and Mrs Balchin in advance of an intended road bypass scheme in 1986. In both cases maladministration was found and the total amount of compensation due was �200,000. However the case illustrated the difficulty of investigating complaints that cross the jurisdictions and the need to reform some working arrangements for public sector Ombudsmen.