Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with reports of antisocial behaviour made about the complainant. This is because the events happened too long ago and I see no good reason why the complaint could not have been made sooner.

The complaint

1. The complainant, who I will call Mr X, complains about how the Council dealt with reports of antisocial behaviour made about him. He says the Council have bullied him.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. 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)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Mr X complained to the Council after it took action against him in May 2020, in response to reports it received about antisocial behaviour The Council issued its final response in September 2020. He complained to the Ombudsman in January 2022.
7. I will not investigate this complaint because it is made late. I see no good reason why Mr X could not have asked the Ombudsman to investigate soon after the Council’s final response.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because the events happened too long ago, and I see no good reason why he could not have complained sooner.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman