Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about highways works carried out by the Council more than three years ago. The complaint is made too late.

The complaint

1. The complainant, who I refer to here as Mr B, has complained about bollards, a bus stop and parking restrictions installed by the Council on roads near his home. He says these present a safety risk and the Council will not tell him what risk assessments it carried out.

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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. It says 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

3. I have considered what Mr B said in his complaint which included the Council’s response to his concerns. Mr B commented on a draft before I made this decision.

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What I found

4. The Council carried out the works Mr B complains about more than three years ago.

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Final decision

5. I have decided we will not investigate this complaint. This is because Mr B did not complain within 12 months of knowing about the matter and there is no exceptional reason he could not have complained to us earlier.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman