Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a yellow line parking restriction, on a road near where Mr X lives. This is a late complaint and there are no good reasons why it could not have been made to us sooner.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained saying the yellow line parking restriction on his road was not legal. He was unhappy with the Council’s response and said he was concerned about the Council’s approach to parking enforcement across the borough.

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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/care provider 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 Mr X and the Council. I also considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

4. Mr X made a complaint to us in August 2023, and we told him to firstly complain to the Council. We also gave him advice about how long he should give the Council to reply, before coming back to us. Mr X then had further correspondence with the Council, and he made another complaint to us in November 2024.
5. We will not investigate this complaint, because it is now late and there are no good reasons why Mr X, could not have complained to us sooner after his communication with the Council late in 2023.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is late and there are no good reasons why it could not have been brought back to us sooner.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman