Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a Disabled Facilities Grant. This is because the events happened too long ago, and I see no good reason why the complaint could not have been made sooner.

The complaint

1. The complainant, who I will call Mr X, complains about how the Council dealt with a Disabled Facility Grant (DFG) to make adaptations to his property for his disabled daughter. Mr X says the DFG was withdrawn before all adaptations could be made, meaning work to the path has not been completed. Mr X says this has negatively impacting his daughters access to their property.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. We cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons. Late complaints are when someone takes more than 12 months to complain to us about something a council has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. In 2011 the Council approved a DFG application from Mr X to build a new bedroom, wet room and footpath to his property. In 2014, Mr X wrote to the Council to say that he had not added the footpath because the DFG would not cover the full costs.
7. I will not investigate Mr X’s complaint. This is because the events happened too long ago, and I see no reason why he could not have complained to the Council and then the Ombudsman sooner.

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Final decision

8. I will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because the events happened too long ago.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman