Summary: Mr X complains that the Council unreasonably refused his request to buy land next to his house. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because the matter is out of time.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains that the Council unreasonably refused his request to buy land next to his house.

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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 the complainant's and Council's comments. The complainant has commented on the draft decision.

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What I found

4. Mr X asked the Council if he could buy land owned by the Council which aligned his house. The Council wrote to him in December 2017 saying that it did not wish to do so as the land made a significant contribution to the street scene.
5. I see no reason why Mr X could not have made a complaint about this to this office within 12 months of becoming aware of the complainant Council’s decision.

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Final decision

6. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because the matter is out of time.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman