Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about highway adoption limits. The complaint is late and there are no good reasons for us to exercise discretion to consider it now.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained the Council failed to investigate or acknowledge concerns he raised about highway adoption limits.
2. Mr X said if the Council does not address the issue it poses a risk to road users.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
4. 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

5. I considered information provided by the complainant.
6. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

7. Mr X reported issues about highway adoption limits which posed a risk to road users.
8. Mr X said the Council failed to acknowledge or respond to his concerns.
9. The available evidence suggests Mr X has known about the issues since before April 2023.
10. As outlined in paragraph four, we cannot investigate complaints where a person has known about the matter for more than 12 months.
11. I have seen no good reasons for us to exercise discretion to consider this complaint now and so we will not investigate.

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Final decision

12. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is late and there are no good reasons for us to exercise discretion to consider it now.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman