Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about events that occurred 35 years ago. This is because it is a late complaint.

The complaint

1. The complainant, whom I refer to as Ms X, complains that the Council ruined her life, 35 years ago, when she was 16. Ms X wants compensation.

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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 has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I read the complaint and asked the Council if it has any records relating to Ms X. I spoke to Ms X after she received a draft of this decision.

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What I found

What happened

5. Ms X says she became a mother 35 years ago when she was 16. She says she was in an abusive relationship with the child’s father. She says the Council took no action in 1992 and 1993. Ms X says the Council ruined her life and she wants compensation. Ms X says she will either write a book or got to the press.
6. The Council says it has no records about Ms X from either now or from 35 years ago.

Assessment

7. I will not start an investigation because this is a late complaint. Ms X has known about the issues for the last 35 years but has only now complained to the Ombudsman. In addition to the complaint being late, it would not be possible to carry out an investigation because the Council has no records about Ms X.

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Final decision

8. I will not start an investigation because this is a late complaint.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman