The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a councillor’s conduct in 2022. The complaint is late and there is no good reason to investigate now.
The complaint
Ms X complains about the actions of a councillor in 2022. She also complains that the Council’s complaints procedure is difficult to use.
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
Ms X complained about a councillor’s conduct in 2022. The Council considered her complaint but decided there was insufficient evidence to take further action.
Ms X raised the complaint again with the Council in 2023. She said she had been unable to pursue the complaint sooner due to ill health. She brought the complaint to us in June 2024.
We will not investigate this complaint. Although I acknowledge Ms X’s reference to ill health, she could have brought the complaint to us in 2023 if she remained dissatisfied. The complaint is late and there is no good reason for us to investigate now.
We will also not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s complaints procedures. It is not a good use of resources to investigate complaints about complaints procedures if we are not investigating the substantive matter.
Final decision
We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because the complaint is late and there is no good reason to investigate now.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman