London Borough of Redbridge (24 011 350)
Category : Planning > Enforcement
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 03 Dec 2024
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of various enforcement and planning matters raised by Mr X. This is because it falls outside our jurisdiction due to the passage of time and because the matters complained about have been the subject of court proceedings.
The complaint
- Mr X complains about the Council’s handling of various enforcement and planning issues concerning his property. He says there has been maladministration, improper conduct and potential breaches of its statutory duty and alleges fraud and collusion between his neighbour, MP and Council officers.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
- 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)
- We cannot investigate a complaint about the start of court action or what happened in court. (Local Government Act 1974, Schedule 5/5A, paragraph 1/3, as amended)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- The restrictions highlighted at paragraphs 2 and 3 apply to Mr X’s complaint. The Enforcement Notice of which he complains was issued in 2020 and it is too late now for us to consider matters over four years later. Moreover, the matter has also been the subject of court proceedings and as such also falls outside our jurisdiction.
- If Mr X has evidence of the fraud and bribery he alleges, he should take this to the police.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it falls outside our jurisdiction due to the passage of time and because the matters complained about have been the subject of court proceedings.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman