The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the use of preferred personal pronouns on Council emails. Her complaint is late.
The complaint
Ms X complained about the Council’s decision to allow staff to include their preferred personal pronouns on emails. She says the decision wasn’t constitutional as the Council should have consulted, particularly with women. She says the Council has created a potential safeguarding issue.
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. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended)
How I considered this complaint
I considered the information provided by the complainant.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Ms X first raised the issues she complains with the Council around the beginning of 2024. There was some further correspondence in May 2024. Ms X complained to us in May 2025.
The law says we cannot investigate complaints where the person has known about the issues they are complaining about for more than 12 months before coming to us, unless there is good reason for the delay.
Ms X has known about these issues for over 12 months and I can see no good reason why she could not have come to us sooner. Therefore, we will not investigate.
Final decision
We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because it is late.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman