Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about parking provision because the complaint is late without good reason to exercise discretion to investigate it now.

The complaint

1. Mr Y complained the Council introduced a parking scheme near his home, but failed to consider, as part of its impact report, the displacement impact of the scheme with drivers parking outside the zone, increasing the level of demand for parking outside his home.
2. Mr Y says this has added to parking demand and is causing difficulty in residents finding spaces to park.

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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 Mr Y provided and the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. The law says people should normally complain to us within 12 months of becoming aware of an issue. Complaints brought to the Ombudsman more than 12 months after someone becomes aware of something a council has done are considered late. We cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons.
7. Mr Y’s was aware of his reason to complain about the Council’s actions when he says he first complained to the Council in February 2024, more than 12 months ago. Mr Y was also told in the Council’s complaint response in May 2024 about the rule set out in paragraph four. However, he did not approach us until after a year had passed. Consequently, his complaint is now late.
8. We have discretion to disapply the rule outlined in paragraph four where we decide there are good reasons. Mr Y has not provided any good reasons why he did not bring his complaint to us within 12 months of knowing about the matter. It is reasonable to expect him to have complained sooner. Consequently, as there are not good reasons to exercise discretion, we will not investigate this late complaint now.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Mr Y’s complaint because the complaint is late without good reason to exercise discretion to investigate it now.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman