Reading Borough Council (25 010 356)
Category : Environment and regulation > Trees
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 15 Oct 2025
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council managed trees near Mr X’s property. This is because the complaint is late and I have seen no good reasons to investigate it now.
The complaint
- Mr X complains about the Council’s handling of trees near his home, which he says reduce sunlight and affect his solar panels.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
- 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 Mr X and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X says the Council did not manage the positioning of trees planted by contractors near to his property properly. He says the trees reduce sunlight and affect his solar energy generation. Mr X also says the Council did not review the issue properly.
- In December 2022, Mr X complained to the Council. An officer visited and explained there is no legal right to light, and the Council would not carry out tree works. The Council issued its stage 2 response on 20 January 2023 confirming its position and advising Mr X he could refer the matter to us. Mr X did not refer the matter to us until 21 August 2025. His complaint is therefore some 2 years late.
- I have considered whether we should accept the complaint late, but I have seen no good reasons to do so. Mr X is evidently able to pursue matters and knew about his right to come to us.
- Mr X has also raised matters since with a councillor, who made enquiries on his behalf. If Mr X wishes to complain about any issues arising since January 2023, he should first raise these with the Council through its complaint procedure. If he is not happy with its response, he can then bring the matter to us to consider.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because the complaint about events in 2022-23 is late and I have seen no good reasons for the delay in bringing the matter. Any complaint about events since January 2023 should go through the Council’s complaint procedure before coming to us.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman