Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council declining her application for a disabled person’s parking permit. This is because her complaint is late and there are no good reasons why she did not complain sooner.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains about the Council declining to grant her a disabled person’s parking permit. Ms X says she suffers with significant foot pain and mobility issues that affects her ability to go out and live a normal life. She would like to be considered for a blue badge so she can park where it is convenient.

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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 Ms X and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Ms X describes her medical conditions and mobility impairment that she believes meet the criteria for an award of a disabled person’s parking permit.
7. However, Ms X is complaining about Council decisions and actions taken in 2024. She allowed over a year to elapse before raising her complaint to us.
8. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint. This is because the complaint is late. We expect people to complain to us within 12 months of them becoming aware of the matter complained of. Any complaint made after 12 months is late. I have not seen any no good reasons why Ms X did not complain to us sooner.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because it is late and there are no good reasons why she did not complain sooner.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman