Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the actions of an advisor working for the Authority. This complaint is late and there are not sufficient good reasons why it could not have been made sooner.

The complaint

1. Mr X said he had an unsatisfactory interaction with an advisor working for the Authority and then when he discovered how the advisor had described his demeanour and attitude, he made a complaint.

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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 public authority 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 and I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Mr X first raised his concerns about this matter in early 2022 and he made a complaint at that point. Mr X then approached us when he received a complaint reply from the Authority in mid-2024.
6. We will not investigate this complaint because it is late. I acknowledge some of the time elapsed can be attributed to delays on the part of the Authority. However, even when taking account of that time, there are still no good reasons why this complaint could not have been made sooner.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is late and there are not sufficient good reasons to explain why it could not have been made to us sooner.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman