Nottinghamshire County Council (20 003 546)
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s delay in referring a map modification order to the Planning Inspectorate. The Ombudsman has discontinued our investigation. This is because Mr X has asked the Ombudsman to withdraw his complaint as the Council has now referred the matter to the Planning Inspectorate.
The complaint
- Mr X complains about the Council’s delay in referring a map modification order to the Planning Inspectorate.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. In this statement, I have used the word fault to refer to these. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint. I refer to this as ‘injustice’. If there has been fault which has caused an injustice, we may suggest a remedy. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26(1) and 26A(1), as amended)
- If we are satisfied with a council’s actions or proposed actions, we can complete our investigation and issue a decision statement. (Local Government Act 1974, section 30(1B) and 34H(i), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered the information provided by Mr X.
- I considered the information provided by the Council.
What I found
What happened
- A member of the public can ask for a Modification Order to the Definitive Map if they believe, and has supporting evidence, that a footpath or other right of way is shown on the wrong place on the map. This process can also be used to claim that an existing path should be on the map if it is not.
- The Council must publicise the order and if there are not objections from the public, it is confirmed, and the right of way is added. If it is opposed, the Council must submit the proposed order to the Planning Inspectorate for a decision. There is no time scale set out in law for when a Council must refer the case to the Planning Inspectorate by.
- In 2004, Mr X’s rambler’s association asked for a modification order to the definitive map. The Council made the order in March 2004. The Council received seven objections to the modification order.
- In 2015, Mr X asked the Council for an update on the modification order. He said the Council told him the case was with its legal team.
- In August 2020, Mr X complained to the Ombudsman.
- In November 2020, Mr X told the Ombudsman the Council had confirmed it had referred the modification order to the Planning Inspectorate. Mr X asked the Ombudsman to withdraw his complaint.
Analysis
- I have discontinued my investigation. This is because the Council has now referred the matter to the Planning Inspectorate and Mr X has requested the Ombudsman withdraw his complaint.
Final decision
- I have discontinued my investigation.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman