Summary: We will not investigate most of Mr X’s complaint about the adequacy of the Council’s consultations regarding parking restrictions in his area because the complaint is late. We will not investigate the Council’s complaints handling because the tests in our Assessment Code are not met.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained the Council failed to:
1. conduct a fair and reasonable consultation in 2024 regarding proposed parking restrictions on his road; and
2. respond to his complaint accurately.
2. Mr X said the matter caused him distress and time and trouble to resolve.

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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)
5. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse effect on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start an investigation if we decide the tests set out in our Assessment Code are not met. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

6. I considered information provided by the complainant.
7. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

Consultation process in 2024

8. We will not investigate this complaint. Mr X complains about the adequacy of the Council’s consultations with residents regarding parking restrictions on his street which took place in March 2024 and November 2024.
9. Mr X brought his complaint to the Ombudsman in late May 2026. The primary issues occurred more than 12 months before this date. Mr X was aware of the issues at the time, and the complaint is therefore late.
10. I have seen no good reasons Mr X could not have complained about these issues sooner. Consequently, we will not investigate this complaint.

Complaint handling

11. It is not a good use of public resources to investigate complaints about complaint procedures if we decide not to investigate the substantive issue. Consequently, we will not investigate this complaint because the tests in our Assessment Code are not met.

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Final decision

12. We will not investigate most of Mr X’s complaint because it is late. We will not investigate the Council’s complaints handling because the tests in our Assessment Code are not met.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman