Summary: We will not investigate X’s complaint about home to school transport. This is because it is made late and I see no good reason to exercise discretion to consider it now.

The complaint

1. X complains that the Council has refused to provided home to school transport for their child.

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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. I will not investigate X’s complaint. The issues they raised go back to decisions made at the end of 2024. I see no good reason why X could not have complained to the Ombudsman about these matters sooner.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate X’s complaint because it is made late.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman