The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council considered a late technical submission in a planning application. This is because we have decided any injustice to Mr X is not significant enough to justify our involvement.
The complaint
Mr X complains the Council failed properly to deal with a late technical submission when considering a planning application. He says this has caused him injustice because he did not have time to consider and object to it.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
People may complain to us about injustice caused by: ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’ by a public organisation we could investigate; or the actions of an organisation in connection with privately arranged adult social care.
(Local Government Act 1974, section 26A(1) or section 34C(1)(a)).
We provide a free service but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), or section 34B(8)).
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
The complaint concerns a late technical submission from a consultee concerning a major planning application. The Council says the submission had no material weight. Mr X’s home is not near the planning site. He says his injustice was being unable to consider the technical amendment.
The law means we can choose only to investigate a complaint where the person has suffered serious loss, harm, or distress as a direct result of faults or failures by the body complained about. We will not normally investigate a complaint where the alleged loss or injustice is not a serious or significant matter.
I recognise the circumstances of Mr X’s complaint have affected him, but this is not significant enough to warrant us investigating.
Final decision
We will not investigate this complaint because any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman