Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s refusal to relocate a lamppost outside his property. Mr X’s complaint is late with no good reason to exercise discretion.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains about the Council’s refusal to relocate a lamppost outside his property. He is unhappy with its handling of the matter.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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 considered information provided by Mr X and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. I will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is late. Evidence shows Mr X first asked the Council to relocate the lamppost in 2022 but it refused. He complained to us in February 2025. There are no good reasons why Mr X could not have complained to us within 12 months of the Council’s refusal. Therefore, I will not investigate.
6. Although Mr X asked the Council to relocate the lamppost again, in 2024, it would not be a good use of public money to investigate the Council’s handling of that complaint when I will not investigate the substantive matter.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is late.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman