The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council failed to provide appropriate support for the complainant’s children following a house fire. The complaint is late and there are no grounds to consider it now.
The complaint
The complainant, who I will refer to as Mr B, complains that the Council failed to provide appropriate support for his children following a house fire.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
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)
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Mr B’s complaint concerns the Council’s actions following a house fire in 2019, in which his family lost their home and possessions. He complains that the Council neglected his children’s welfare by failing to provide support for them.
We will not investigate this complaint because it is late. There is nothing to suggest Mr B could not have brought this matter to the Ombudsman’s attention at the time and we will not consider it now.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mr B’s complaint because it is late and there are no grounds for us to consider it now.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman