Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint that the Council failed to respond to her request for information about her daughter. This is because it is made late and I see no good reason to exercise discretion and consider it now.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complains that the Council has failed to respond to her request for information about her daughter.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
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 complainant and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. In early March 2024, Mrs X asked the Council to provide her with information about her daughter. Mrs X complained in late March 2024, after no response to her request was received.
7. I will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because it is made late and I see no good reason why she could not have complained to the Ombudsman sooner.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because it is made late and I see no good reason to exercise discretion and consider it now.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman