Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a taxi licence decision. This is because the complaint is late and there are not good reasons to investigate the complaint now.

The complaint

1. Mr B complains that in 2018 the Council wrongly revoked his taxi licence. Mr B complains about the Council’s handling of this decision which affected his health and wellbeing. Mr B would like the Council to explain and justify the decision to revoke his licence.

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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 Mr B.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. The events Mr B complains about took place in 2018. Mr B complained to us in 2024. Mr B has not complained to us within 12 months of becoming aware of the issue he complains about. This means this complaint is late.
7. I have not seen any information to suggest there are good reasons for Mr B’s delay making this complaint to us. So, we will not investigate this complaint.
8. Also, we would generally expect a person who wants to challenge a decision to revoke their taxi licence to use their right of appeal to the magistrates court. So, even if this complaint was not late it is highly unlikely we would start an investigation.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Mr B’s complaint because it is late and there are not good reasons for us to investigate the complaint now.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman