Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Authority’s actions relating a commercial dispute and how it addressed that. The complaint is late and there are no good reasons why it could not have been made to us sooner.

The complaint

1. Mr X said the Authority has not properly responded to his concerns about procurement matters and a commercial dispute he has with it. He said this has caused his company significant financial hardship and has caused him stress.

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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 an organisation 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 I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

4. Mr X provided information about his complaint relating to a commercial dispute he has with the Authority and a concern about how the organisation procures services. From the information I have seen, these matters go back several years and Mr X raised concerns about procurement in 2021.
5. We will not investigate this complaint because it is late and there are no good reasons why a complaint could not have been raised with us sooner.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is late and there are no good reasons why it could not have been made in time.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman