The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a planning application. This is because the complaint is late.
The complaint
Ms X has complained about how the Council dealt with a planning application for a development near her home.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
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 Ms X and the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Ms X has raised many concerns about how the Council dealt with a planning application for a development near her home. However, I consider Ms X's complaint late. A complaint is late if it has taken someone more than 12 months to complain to the Ombudsman. It has been more than a year since the Council granted outline planning permission and approved the reserved matters application for the development. Ms X knew about the applications at the time and objected to the proposed development. I see no good reason to exercise discretion to investigate as I consider Ms X could have complained to the Ombudsman sooner.
Final decision
We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because the complaint is late.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman