East Riding of Yorkshire Council (20 011 794)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Licensing 26-Mar-2021

Summary: Mr X complains the Council has allowed its officers to carry out a vendetta against him and the trade organisation he represents by making malicious and defamatory statements. We will not investigate the complaint because earlier complaints made to us have already been investigated and if Mr X believes he has been defamed he can take the Council to court.

Peterborough City Council (20 010 186)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Licensing 23-Mar-2021

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s handling of issues relating to the selective licence he, as a landlord of private rented accommodation, is required to have. We will not investigate the complaint because the availability of appeal rights to the Residential Property Tribunal places it outside our jurisdiction and we will not look at the Council’s licensing of other landlords.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (20 010 589)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Licensing 18-Mar-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a licence transfer fee for a beach hut. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council and because part of the complaint would need to be considered in court.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (20 011 091)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Licensing 05-Mar-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal to intervene between Mr Q and another freeholder regarding the bin storage area at the front of their property. This is because we are unlikely to find fault with the Council.

Folkestone & Hythe District Council (20 003 335)

Statement Not upheld Licensing 26-Feb-2021

Summary: Mr F complains about the Council’s refusal of his application for a licence to use his electric boat on a canal owned by the Council. He complains about its inconsistent approach, as it has granted a licence for one electric boat. There was no fault by the Council. It has valid reasons why it wants to restrict use of the canal to non-motorised boats. And it has given reasons why its view is it can make an exception for a Council owned boat.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council (19 019 963)

Statement Not upheld Licensing 25-Feb-2021

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr Q’s complaint that the Council lied to us to make us change our decision on an earlier complaint about private hire and taxi driver training. This is because further investigation is unlikely to lead to a different outcome. Nor will we investigate Mr Q’s related complaint about the Council’s decision, in March 2019, not to accept BTEC courses for licensed drivers. This is because it is unlikely we would find fault, nor has it caused injustice to the Association making the complaint, or its members.

Castle Point Borough Council (20 010 249)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Licensing 19-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of his complaint against a local taxi company. This is because the Council’s actions did not cause Mr X significant personal injustice for which we would recommend a remedy.

Transport for London (19 020 837)

Statement Upheld Licensing 18-Feb-2021

Summary: The Ombudsman found fault by Transport for London on Mr W’s complaint of it delaying processing his application for a private hire driver’s licence. It should have sent his driver’s badge along with the replacement licence when told he had not received its previous letter or taken steps to clarify whether he had received it. It delayed sending the replacement badge by a further 3 months. The agreed action remedies the injustice caused.

Transport for London (20 009 995)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Licensing 17-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the outcome of two tests the complainant took as part of his application to be a licensed taxi driver. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Authority and because the complainant could complain to the Information Commissioner.

Transport for London (19 009 902)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Licensing 10-Feb-2021

Summary: Mr X complains the Council will not give him a pro-rata refund for unused years on a private hire vehicle operator’s licence he took out with it. We will not investigate as it is unlikely we will find fault by the Council. Mr X’s complaint about the Council suspending his licence prior to this is outside our legal remit. This is because Mr X had the right to appeal against the Council’s decision in court.