Lichfield District Council (26 006 434)
Category : Environment and regulation > Noise
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 17 Sep 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about action the Council took in response to reports of noise nuisance. The complaint is late and there is no good reason for us to consider it now.
The complaint
- Mr X complains the Council shared noise diary sheets he completed as part of a noise nuisance investigation without his permission. He says this caused ongoing difficulties and distress. He wants the Council to apologise and acknowledge it acted wrongly.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- 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)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X complains about the Council's handling of information he provided as part of a noise nuisance investigation. The Council says it shared a redacted version of noise diary sheets with other parties after mediation had taken place.
- Mr X was aware of the matters he complains about at the time. His complaint to the Council explains that he knew the diary sheets had been shared and says the problems he associates with this have continued since then.
- However, Mr X did not complain to the Council until recently and has only now brought the matter to the Ombudsman. The events he complains about happened several years ago. We have not seen evidence of a good reason why Mr X could not have complained to us sooner.
- We will not investigate this complaint because the events happened more than 12 months ago and Mr X has not given a good reason for the delay in bringing his complaint to us.
Final decision
- We will not investigate this complaint because it is late and there is no good reason for us to consider it now.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman