Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to grant planning permission for his neighbour’s extension 15 years ago. The complaint is late and there is no reason Mr X could not have complained to us much sooner.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council ignored his objections when it granted planning permission for his neighbour’s extension 15 years ago.

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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 and the Council.
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 late. Mr X was aware of the Council’s decision to grant planning permission for the extension in 2011. There is no reason why he could not have complained to us much sooner.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman