Milton Keynes Council (23 003 265)
Category : Planning > Enforcement
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 16 Jul 2023
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about planning permission granted by the Council as it is out of time.
The complaint
- Ms X complains that the Council unreasonably granted planning permission for a neighbour’s development which impedes on her land.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- 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)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Ms X complains about a planning permission granted in September 2021 for a single storey extension.
- The Council replies to her complaint in November 20221. I see no reason why a complaint about this matter could not have been made to this office within 12 months of that decision and so the complaint is out of time.
- Any allegation of trespass is a private matter and can be subject of private legal action by Ms X and not a matter for the Ombudsman.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman