Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a planning decision the Council made in 2018. The law does not allow us to investigate late complaints.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained the Council made an unlawful decision when it approved an application for a housing development in 2018. He said there is no legal underpinning for the decision reached by Council in 2018 as its decision was for a site not consistent with the planning application.

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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 a council 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 the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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Final decision

5. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is late. Mr X’s complaint relates to a planning application the Council approved in 2018.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman