Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s lack of response to a request for family support. This is because the complaint is late and there are no good reasons to exercise discretion to investigate it now.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained the Council did not respond to a request for family support made in 2023.
2. He said the Council denied him the opportunity to present information so it could safeguard his children. He said the situation resulted in years of pain and suffering. He wants the Council to financially compensate him and his son.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
4. 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

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. We will not investigate this complaint. Mr X became aware of the issue in 2023 when he first raised his concerns with the Council. He raised a formal complaint with the Council in 2025 which it declined to investigate because it was not made within 12 months.
8. We expect a person to complain to us within 12 months of being aware of a matter and Mr X did not complain to us until 2025. Therefore, the complaint is late, and there is no good reason to exercise discretion to consider it now.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because the complaint is late and there are no good reasons to exercise discretion to investigate it now.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman