Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to grant planning permission for a site next to the complainant’s home. This is because the complaint is late and we have seen no good reason to exercise discretion and investigate it now.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains about the Council’s decision to grant planning permission for a site next to his home. He says the developer does not own the land required for access.

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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 Mr X.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is about the granting of planning permission in 2021. This means Mr X’s complaint is late as he is complaining about matters, which he was aware of at the time, that happened more than 12 months ago. I do not consider there are any good reasons as to why Mr X could not have complained to us earlier.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman