Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to refuse his application for a disabled parking bay. This is because the complaint is late and there is no good reason to investigate now.

The complaint

1. Mr X applied for a disabled parking bay in May 2023. He complains the Council has refused his appeal.

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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. Mr X applied for a disabled parking bay in May 2023. The Council refused in October 2023. It upheld its decision in 2025. Mr X complained to the Ombudsman in February 2026.
7. The law says we cannot investigate complaints brought to us more than 12 months after the complainant first became aware of the issue unless we decide there are good reasons. I will not investigate this complaint. I have not seen any good reason why this complaint could not have been brought to us sooner.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is late, and there is no good reason it could not have been brought to us sooner.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman