Summary: We will not investigate this late complaint about the Council’s workmen blocking Mr Y’s driveway. There is not a good reason Mr X did not complain to us sooner.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains workmen on behalf of the Council blocked his father’s (Mr Y’s) driveway without warning. This caused access difficulties for visitors to Mr Y, who is in the last year of his life.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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

3. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Mr X complained to the Council in late 2020 after the Council’s workmen blocked his father’s (Mr Y’s) driveway to carry out work to the highway. Mr X says this caused access difficulties for visitors to Mr Y’s home, which included healthcare professionals. The Council apologised for the inconvenience and frustration. Mr X complained to us in late 2021.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mr X’s late complaint because there is not a good reason he did not bring it to us sooner.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman