Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s alleged failure to relocate Miss X to a more suitable home and delay in sourcing respite for her children with special educational needs. This is because these complaints relate to events that took place more than 12 months ago. It would have been reasonable for Miss X to bring these matters to our attention at the time.

The complaint

1. Miss X raised several complaints to the Council regarding unsuitable housing and a delay in arranging respite for her children with special educational needs.
2. Miss X says she has been put to stress and upset due to the Council’s actions.

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

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. In March 2022 Miss X complained to the Council because she wanted an explanation for the Council’s delay in arranging respite for her children. She also complained that she wanted to be rehoused as her current housing was unsuitable for her and her children’s needs.
7. The Council explained the COVID-19 pandemic impacted respite providers and informed Miss X it would continue to seek potential respite providers. The Council told Miss X it would pass her housing requests to its housing team and referred her to the Ombudsman.
8. Miss X has brought the complaint to us over 12 months following the events she has complained about. The Ombudsman will not usually exercise discretion to investigate matters that took place this long ago unless there are good reasons to do so. I can see no good reason Miss X did not bring these matters to our attention to us at the time and given the time that has passed it is unlikely an investigation would lead to anything worthwhile for her.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaints because they relate to events that took place more than 12 months ago and it would have been reasonable for Miss X to bring them to our attention at the time.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman