Erewash Borough Council (20 008 791)

Statement Upheld Trees 09-Jul-2021

Summary: Mr and Mrs X complained about the way the Council dealt with unauthorised works they reported to protected trees. There was no fault in the way the Council responded to their reports. However, there was fault in the way a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) was originally made. The Council remedied the complaint appropriately by apologising to Mr and Mrs X for the impact this had in the local area.

Stevenage Borough Council (20 005 504)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 07-Jul-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to carry out work to trees which overhang the complainant’s property. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. There is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Maidstone Borough Council (21 004 885)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 06-Jul-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a planning application the complainant believes will result in damage to a protected tree. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. There is no evidence of fault in how the Council granted planning permission.

Birmingham City Council (21 002 906)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 05-Jul-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr B’s complaint that the Council has not accepted responsibility for tree roots which have spread under his property. This is because it is reasonable for Mr B to put in a claim on the Council’s insurance, and if needed, pursue the claim at court.

Buckinghamshire Council (21 002 403)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 05-Jul-2021

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s refusal to carry out maintenance of a tree on his property boundary. We will not investigate this complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault, and it is reasonable for him to take legal action if he believes damage is being caused to his property by a Council-owned tree.

Bristol City Council (20 012 334)

Statement Not upheld Trees 30-Jun-2021

Summary: Mr X complains, on behalf of a campaign group, that the Council failed to properly consider their representations about the ownership of a strip of land which contained protected trees. We decided we should discontinue our investigation into Mr X’s complaint. This is because the central issue is a boundary dispute that we cannot resolve. We also considered we could not achieve a worthwhile outcome through an investigation.

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (21 003 873)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 28-Jun-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about damage to the complainant’s property caused by trees on Council land. This is because it is reasonable to expect the complainant to go to court to decide any Council liability.

Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council (20 013 624)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 25-Jun-2021

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s handling of a consultation letter sent to local residents concerning the proposed removal of a tree. We will not investigate the complaint because an investigation is unlikely to achieve any useful outcome.

Birmingham City Council (21 001 293)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 24-Jun-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council not removing debris from tress near the complainant’s home. It is unlikely we would find fault by the Council has caused the complainant significant injustice.

London Borough of Hackney (21 000 263)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 24-Jun-2021

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s failure to take action over a tree outside his home which he says is damaging his property. We will not investigate this complaint. This is because it concerns a claim about damage to property and this is a civil matter for which it is reasonable for him to seek a remedy in the courts.