Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaints that the Council failed to make reasonable adjustments or recognise his protected characteristics, referred to his medication in a derogatory manner and refused to allow him to meet its Equality Officer. Not only are these complaints late with no good reason to exercise discretion, we considered most of them in 2024.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained the Council:
• failed to make reasonable adjustments or recognise his protected characteristics;
• referred to his medication in a derogatory manner; and
• refused to allow him to meet its Equality Officer.

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

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My assessment

5. The Council responded to Mr X’s complaints in paragraph 1. Most of them were considered by us in 2024. The others are late. I can see no good reason why Mr X could have not come to us earlier. Therefore, we will not investigate them now.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaints. Most have already been considered by us. The others are late and I have seen no good reason to exercise discretion and investigate them now.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman