Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to withdraw the complainants use of a disabled parking bay This is because the events happened too long ago and I see no reason why the complaint could not have been made sooner.

The complaint

1. The complainant, who I will call Mr X, complains about the Council’s decision to withdraw his disabled parking bay.

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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 and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. I will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is made late. The Council issued a final response to Mr X’s complaint in January 2017. However, he did not approach the Ombudsman until some four years later. I see no reason why he could not have asked us to investigate sooner.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is made late and I see no reason why it could not have been made sooner.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman