A LOCAL Government ombudsman has said it is not their job to deal with a planning dispute between a business owner and Bradford Council.

The ombudsman deals with complaints about local authorities, and this week released their latest list of cases.

One refers to a complaint brought by a Bradford business over Bradford Council’s refusal to let the complainant keep roller shutters on their shop.

Complainants in ombudsman reports are kept anonymous, and in this report the complainant is only referred to as Mr B.

The report says plans for shutters, which Mr B says were needed for security reasons, were refused in 2021, and an appeal against this decision was also dismissed by a Government planning inspector.

The report adds: “Recently the Council has decided a new planning application put in by Mr B for shutters. The Council has also refused this application.

“Mr B may put in an appeal to the Planning Inspector against this decision. I find it is reasonable for Mr B to do this.

“The Planning Inspector is independent and has the power to overturn the Council’s decision and grant planning permission. So, we will not investigate the Council’s most recent planning decision.

“The dispute between Mr B and the Council about whether these shutters are acceptable in planning terms is for the Planning Inspector to decide via these rights of appeal, not the Ombudsman.”