Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a child protection conference held in 2024. 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 a child protection conference held in 2024. X says the Council should have organised another conference with a different chair.

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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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Final decision

5. We will not investigate X’s complaint because it is made late. I see no good reason why X could not have complained to the Ombudsman about this matter sooner.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman