Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the sale of land as the complaint is made late to us and there are not good reasons to investigate now.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains the Council sold a piece of land in 2022 without first consulting residents or the parish council. Ms X says residents are unhappy about this.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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

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

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My assessment

5. Information provided by Ms X indicates she was aware of the alleged Council fault in January 2023. Ms X did not complain to us until December 2024. Ms X has not complained to us within a year of her knowing about the problem and the complaint is therefore made late. Ms X has provided no explanation as to why the complaint is late and I do not consider there are good reasons to investigate now.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because it is made late and there are not good reasons to investigate now.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman