Reading Borough Council (20 013 700)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 31-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions in relation to a development next to Dr X’s property. There is no evidence of fault in how the Council has reached decisions about planning matters. The Council has also apologised for delays in dealing with Dr X’s complaints about planning enforcement and this is a suitable remedy. Dr X has not been caused an injustice as a result of the Council’s actions in relation to building regulation compliance.

Brentwood Borough Council (21 009 135)

Statement Upheld Enforcement 31-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to ensure a developer installed a privacy screen in line with the planning conditions or approved drawings. Mr X says the resultant privacy screen does not provide him with the intended privacy. The Ombudsman found fault with the Council failing to include the relevant drawings in the decision notice preventing effective enforcement. The Council agreed to the Ombudsman’s recommendation to apologise to Mr X and pay him £1,000 for the impact on his amenity.

Bristol City Council (21 010 212)

Statement Not upheld Enforcement 31-Mar-2022

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to take enforcement action against her neighbours, when they built an extension to a greater height than permission allowed for. We have discontinued our investigation. The planning enforcement case is still active so it is not possible for us to determine the level of injustice the alleged fault may have caused Ms X.

East Lindsey District Council (19 014 585)

Statement Upheld Enforcement 30-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to follow procedure when its planning enforcement officers investigated his conversion of a garage to letting rooms. I do not consider there is fault causing injustice to Mr X by the Council.

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council (21 001 670)

Statement Upheld Enforcement 30-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr X says the Council failed to act on his reports that his neighbour carried out development on a front driveway without planning permission. Mr X also complains the Council unreasonably decided to apply its policy on vexatious or persistent complainants to him. There was fault by the Council because it did not inform Mr X of the outcome of its planning enforcement investigation. It consequently improperly applied its policy on vexatious complainants. The Council agreed to apologise to Mr X and make a payment to him to address the injustice he suffered in consequence of its fault.

Birmingham City Council (21 018 921)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 29-Mar-2022

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr B’s complaint about a planning enforcement notice. This is because Mr B used his right of appeal to the planning inspector.

Cheshire East Council (21 009 784)

Statement Upheld Enforcement 29-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr X complains about inaction by the Council on a planning enforcement complaint. There was fault with the Council’s handling of the planning enforcement matter as well as its handling of Mr X’s complaint. However, the complainant was closed because the Ombudsman cannot achieve the outcome Mr X wants.

Chelmsford City Council (21 018 258)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 29-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision not to take enforcement action regarding his neighbour’s new windows, or request the neighbour to submit a retrospective planning application for the works. There is not enough evidence of Council fault in its decision-making process to warrant an investigation.

West Berkshire Council (20 004 358)

Statement Not upheld Enforcement 29-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr B complains that the Council failed to take appropriate action in respect of breaches of planning control relating to a nearby mobile home site. The Ombudsman has found no fault in the way the Council has decided to take no further action, so we cannot question the merits of that decision.

Buckinghamshire Council (21 013 691)

Statement Upheld Enforcement 28-Mar-2022

Summary: Ms X complains about the Council’s failure to enforce a condition of a planning permission granted by the Planning Inspectorate. There was fault by the Council because of unreasonable delay in dealing with the matter. The Council agreed to act to remedy the injustice.