Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint that the Council did not complete its antisocial behaviour review properly. This is because the complaint is late and I have seen no good reasons to investigate it now. There is also no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complained the Council did not properly consider her concerns about antisocial behaviour from a neighbouring property when it completed an (ASB) case review.
2. Mrs X said this caused her and her family to become physically and mentally ill and resulted in them moving from their home.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

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 consider complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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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. Mrs X said she had experienced noise-related antisocial behaviour from a neighbouring property since 2023.
8. Mrs X gathered evidence of the noise and used recording equipment provided by the Council to determine the extent of it.
9. The requirements for an ASB case review were met and Mrs X applied for one in October 2024. The Council completed the review in December 2024. Mrs X requested a review of the review, and which the Council completed in January 2025.
10. Mrs X did not refer the matter to us until February 2026. Her complaint is therefore some over a year late.
11. I have considered whether we should accept the complaint late, but I have seen no good reasons to do so. Mrs X is evidently able to pursue matters and knew about her right to come to us.
12. In any event as Mrs X has now moved from the property in question. There is no worthwhile outcome achievable by investigating.

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Final decision

We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because the complaint is late and I have seen no good reasons to investigate it now. There is also no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman