Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about council officers misleading the Planning Committee. The complaint is late and we have no reason to exercise discretion.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains Council officers misled planning committee members in October 2024. She says this led the committee to make an unsafe decision to approve a planning application for up to 1450 new properties close to Ms X’s home.

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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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My assessment

6. Ms X complains about the actions of planning officers at a meeting in October 2024. She complained to the Council in November 2024 and received a final response in February 2025. The Council’s final response advised Ms X that she could complaint to the Ombudsman. However, it also advised she should complain to us within 12 months of becoming aware of the matter – not from the date of the final response. The planning meeting took place 20 months ago.
7. Ms X complained to us in January 2026. The complaint is therefore late.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because it is late and we have seen no reason to exercise discretion on this point.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman