Summary: Mr X complains about the poor service he received when making a planning application in 2016. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because he has appealed to a Planning Inspector.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains about the poor service he received when making planning applications in 2016.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We cannot investigate a complaint if someone has appealed to a government minister. The Planning Inspector acts on behalf of a government minister. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(6)(b), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I have considered the complainant's comments and the Council's comments and Mr X has commented on the draft decision.

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What I found

4. Mr X made a planning application in August to remove a hanging slate tile and replace with composite cladding including new composite cladding to additional areas. The Council refused the planning application in October 2016.
5. Mr X appealed against this decision and the Planning Inspector upheld his appeal in March 2017.
6. Mr X says that during this time the Council has been unhelpful in failing to provide information he has requested and delaying the determination of the planning application.
7. The courts have held that the Local Government Ombudsman may not investigate a complaint where the substantial issue is out of jurisdiction. In this case, the planning application itself is out of jurisdiction because he appealed to a Planning Inspector. He could have sought costs against the Council on appeal if he considered the Council has acted unreasonably.
8. For these reasons, the Local Government Ombudsman will not investigate the complaint about the service he received by the Council.

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Final decision

9. For the reasons given above I do not propose to investigate this complaint. The matter has been appealed to a Planning Inspector.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman