Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council refused to allow Mr X to change the vehicle on his taxi licence. The complaint is made late, and I see no good reason why Mr X could not have brought it to us sooner.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains about the Council’s decision to refuse his request to change the vehicle on his taxi 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 the complainant and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. I will not investigate Mr X’s complaint. The Council decision to refuse Mr X’s request to change the vehicle on his taxi licence was made in 2022. His complaint is therefore made late, and I see no good reason why Mr X could not have come to us sooner.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is made late.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman