Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council chasing Mr X for payment of a business improvement district levy from 2010. This is because it is about matters that happened more than 12 months ago and there are no good reasons for why Mr X could not have complained to us earlier.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council is chasing him for payment of a business improvement district levy from 2010.

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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. The Council issued Mr X a bill in 2010. Mr X provided evidence he contacted the Council in 2018. In his email, Mr X noted the Council’s records showed the bill had yet to be paid.
6. There are no good reasons for why Mr X could not have complained to us earlier about the matter. This is especially given the evidence shows Mr X has been aware the Council considered the bill was still outstanding since 2018.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is about matters that happened more than 12 months ago and there are no good reasons for why Mr X could not have complained to us earlier.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman