Telford & Wrekin Council (20 005 263)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Licensing 09-Nov-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about a banning order made by a tribunal. The complainant had a right of appeal to another tribunal. The Ombudsman should not investigate a complaint about an interim management order made by the Council because the complainant had a right of appeal to a tribunal.

West Oxfordshire District Council (19 021 079)

Statement Not upheld Licensing 30-Oct-2020

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to adequately investigate his complaint about his neighbour, Ms F, who he said was operating an unlicensed dog boarding business. He said the anti-social behaviour by Ms F and the noise from her dogs caused him distress. I discontinued this investigation. This was because the housing association investigated the anti-social behaviour and noise and as a result it terminated Ms F’s tenancy and provided Mr X with a financial remedy for the distress caused. It is unlikely further investigation into how the Council investigated Ms F’s alleged dog boarding business would achieve more for Mr X or lead to a different outcome.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (19 017 388)

Statement Upheld Licensing 21-Oct-2020

Summary: There was fault by the Council, because its policy about licensing wheelchair accessible vehicles as taxis is ambiguous, and because licence application forms were not freely available, but it is already taking steps to address these issues. It is too speculative, however, to say this caused an injustice to the complainant. There is no evidence to say the Council’s Licensing Officer was deliberately obstructive towards the complainant, nor that this was motivated by racism.

Cherwell District Council (19 017 256)

Statement Not upheld Licensing 19-Oct-2020

Summary: There is no fault in the Council’s decision not to take enforcement action against a park home site owner for a breach of licence conditions.

Sheffield City Council (20 004 672)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Licensing 15-Oct-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to treat three late House of Multiple Occupation licence renewals as new applications. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Uttlesford District Council (20 001 628)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Licensing 12-Oct-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint the Council revoked his joint hackney carriage / private hire vehicle licence. This is because the complaint is late, and it was reasonable for Mr X to use the appeal rights available to him.

Transport for London (19 008 645)

Statement Not upheld Licensing 07-Oct-2020

Summary: Mr C says Transport for London was responsible for unacceptable delay in investigating allegations against him while he applied for a new taxi licence. He says this caused him to lose approximately £40,000 in income. Transport for London was not at fault. Mr C did not initially provide vetting information required before a licence decision could be made. Transport for London then took time to investigate allegations of misconduct against Mr C and his claim that such misconduct had not occurred. There was no significant delay and no injustice to Mr C.

London Borough of Bexley (19 021 085)

Statement Upheld Licensing 29-Sep-2020

Summary: During an Ombudsman investigation into a different complaint, it came to our attention that the Council unlawfully required landlords to provide Electrical Installation Condition Reports as a condition of granting selective licences. This was fault. The Council should write to all affected landlords to tell them of the error and provide an opportunity to seek redress.

London Borough of Lewisham (19 012 541)

Statement Not upheld Licensing 08-Sep-2020

Summary: Mr B complained the Council unreasonably terminated his trading licence, failed to give him notice and treated him differently to other traders. There is no fault in how the Council dealt with Mr B’s trading licence.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (19 014 482)

Statement Not upheld Licensing 25-Aug-2020

Summary: Mr X complains the Council breeched court agreements and delayed the handling of his case about the alleged wrongful suspension and then revocation of his taxi licence. He says this has caused him an injustice as he feels he has been treated unfairly and this has affected him financially and otherwise. The matters Mr X asks the Ombudsman to investigate are outside our jurisdiction. Therefore, we are discontinuing this investigation.