Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal of a disabled parking bay application. This is because the complaint is late and there are no good reasons to exercise discretion to investigate this complaint.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained on behalf of Mr Y about the Council’s refusal of his application for a disabled parking bay outside his home. 
2. Mr X says Mr Y has physical difficulty accessing and leaving his home, affecting his independence and causing isolation.

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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 provider 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 provided by Mr X and the Council.
6. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

7. Mr Y applied for a disabled parking bay outside his home in 2023.
8. This was refused in September 2023 and Mr Y appealed the decision. The appeal was rejected in November 2023.
9. Mr X complained to the Council on behalf of Mr Y on this matter in 2025. The Council’s final response on the complaint was in October 2025.
10. Mr X complained to us on behalf of Mr Y in November 2025. This was 24 months after Mr Y became aware of the Council’s refusal of the parking bay. The limit in paragraph 4 therefore applies. Mr Y’s complaint is late.
11. Mr X has not provided good reason to exercise discretion. The complaint could have been made to us sooner. Therefore, we will not investigate.

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Final decision

12. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is late and there are no good reasons to exercise our discretion to investigate.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman