The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to address a persistent public health hazard and environmental nuisance at the entrance of Mrs X’s property. This is because the complaint is late and there are no good reasons.
The complaint
Mrs X complains about the Council’s failure to address a persistent public health hazard and environmental nuisance at the entrance of her property. She says this has caused her family significant distress for over a year.
Mrs X wants a professional deep clean, an apology and explanation, financial compensation and the implementation of a suitable waste management and enforcement plan.
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 the complainant and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Mrs X complained to the Council in February 2025 and brought her complaint to us in April 2026. She says she had made numerous reports to the Council over the previous 12 months. This means she was aware of the issues she complains about more than 12 months before she came to us.
We will not investigate this late complaint. Mrs X was aware of the matters complained about more than 12 months before she complained to us, and I have seen no good reason to exercise discretion to investigate now. If Mrs X remained dissatisfied with the Council’s responses, it was open to her to bring her complaint to us sooner.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because it is late and there are no good reasons.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman