Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with the complainant’s planning application. This is because the complainant had the right to appeal to the Planning Inspector. The complainant has not suffered significant injustice in relation to the remaining issues complained about.

The complaint

1. Mr X has complained about how the Council dealt with his planning application. Mr X says there were long delays and the case officer assessing the proposal changed on a few occasions. Mr X also says there was a lack of timely and consistent communication from the Council. Mr X says he has been caused stress and suffered financial hardship because of the Council’s actions.

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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. The law says we cannot normally investigate a complaint when someone can appeal to a government minister. However, we may decide to investigate if we consider it would be unreasonable to expect the person to appeal. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(6)(b), as amended)
4. The Planning Inspector acts on behalf of the responsible Government minister. The Planning Inspector considers appeals about:

• Delay – usually over eight weeks – by an authority in deciding an application for planning permission
• A decision to refuse planning permission
• Conditions placed on planning permission
• A planning enforcement notice.

5. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

6. I considered information provided by Mr X and the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

7. Mr X could have appealed to the Planning Inspector if he was unhappy with how long the Council was taking to determine his application. Mr X also could have chosen not to withdraw the application and appealed if the Council refused planning permission. I consider it would have been reasonable for Mr X to have used his right to appeal. The Ombudsman will not usually investigate when someone had a right to appeal to the Planning Inspector.
8. Mr X has also complained about how the Council communicated with him and says it would not accept his phone calls. However, I do not consider the injustice suffered as a result of these matters significant enough to justify an investigation by the Ombudsman in isolation.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because he had the right to appeal to the Planning Inspector. Mr X has not suffered significant injustice in relation to the remaining issues complained about.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman