Summary: We will not investigate X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of their council tax. This is because the complaint is made late and I see no good reason why it could not have been made sooner.

The complaint

1. X complains about how the Council has dealt with matters relating to their council tax.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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

3. I considered information provided by the complainant.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. X complained to the Council in December 2024. The Council issued a final response in February 2025, in which it responded to X’s concerns about the Council’s handling of his council tax.
6. I will not investigate X’s complaint. This is because it is made late and I see no good reason why he could not have complained to us sooner.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate X’s complaint because it is made late.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman