Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint who says his neighbour is a risk to his and the neighbour’s children and that the Council has failed to safeguard them. Mr X’s complaint is made late and there is no good reason to consider it now. Mr X is also an unsuitable representative for his neighbour’s children.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains about his neighbour being a risk to his and the neighbour’s children. Mr X says the Council has ignored his concerns regarding his neighbour despite sending them recordings.

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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/care provider has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended).
4. We may investigate complaints made on behalf of someone else if they have given their consent. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26A(1), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

7. I will not investigate Mr X’s complaint as his concerns are about issues that happened more than 12 months ago and I see no good reason why he could not have complained to us sooner.
8. Furthermore, Mr X is an unsuitable representative for his neighbour’s children and does not have the required consent to act on their behalf.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because the complaint is late, and Mr X is unsuitable to represent his neighbours’ children as he does not have the required consent.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman