Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the way the Council considered reports of breaches of planning control and planning applications. The complaint is late and we have seen no reason why the complainant could not have contacted us much sooner.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains about the way the Council dealt with reports of breaches of planning control and planning applications for her neighbour’s property.

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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 Ms X and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because it concerns reports of breaches of planning control and planning applications received between 2022 and 2024. The law says a complaint must be made to us within 12 months of the complainant becoming aware of the matter. This complaint is therefore late, and we have seen no reason why Ms X could not have complained to us much sooner.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman