Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with planning applications in early 2025. This is because the complaint is made late and there is no good reason to exercise discretion and consider it now.

The complaint

1. X complains about how the Council managed planning applications that X made in early 2025. X feels they were pressured into signing an agreement around parking and that additional costs were not properly explained.

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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 the complainant.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. I will not investigate X’s complaint because it is made late. I acknowledge that X’s partner has faced health issues, and that X has been occupied carrying out work to their property. However, on balance, I consider that X could still have reasonably complained sooner.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate X’s complaint because it is made late.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman