Mr X complained about the Council’s failure to act, over a 5 year period, to provide safe access for disabled people to a local park.
Although the evidence suggested that the Council had been acting to address the situation, the Ombudsman was concerned that these matters had been ongoing for an extended period of time and the Council had not yet reached a final decision. He decided to settle the complaint without an investigation.
Ultimately, the Ombudsman decided it was not appropriate to impose a definite timescale, but sought and gained the Council’s agreement to actively progress these matters going forward, provide Mr X with regular updates and to notify him of its final decision.