North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council (19 012 608)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Antisocial behaviour 26-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s decision not to take further action against a neighbour who lopped a Council owned tree. Mrs X also raises concerns about Council corruption, nepotism, collusion with police and the way it handled her complaint. It is unlikely an investigation by the Ombudsman would find fault with the way the Council reached its decision showing a significant personal injustice. It is also unlikely the Ombudsman could add to the previous investigation by the Council. The Ombudsman cannot investigate police matters.

Northamptonshire County Council (19 014 682)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Antisocial behaviour 26-Feb-2020

Summary: Ms B complains the Council has failed to take appropriate action against children playing ball games in her street. The Ombudsman will not investigate the complaint because an investigation will achieve no useful outcome.

North Lincolnshire Council (19 015 107)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Antisocial behaviour 25-Feb-2020

Summary: Mr X complained about how the Council dealt with his and his neighbour’s security lights. We will not investigate this late complaint. This is because Mr X could have complained to the Ombudsman sooner and he has not raised a new complaint with the Council since 2016.

South Cambridgeshire District Council (19 010 833)

Statement Not upheld Antisocial behaviour 20-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman is unable to investigate how the Council dealt with Mrs C’s reports of antisocial behaviour, due to ongoing court proceedings. There is, however, no evidence of fault in how the Council decided to issue a community protection warning notice to Mrs C.

London Borough of Islington (19 016 212)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Antisocial behaviour 17-Feb-2020

Summary: Mr X complained a Council caretaker behaved inappropriately towards him and the Council failed to respond to his complaints properly. The Ombudsman will not investigate the matters dating up to the end of 2018. This is because they are late and there are no good reasons to exercise discretion to investigate now. We will not investigate the matters dating from 2019 because it is unlikely we could add to the Council’s investigation or achieve a different outcome.

Boston Borough Council (19 004 161)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Antisocial behaviour 14-Feb-2020

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s failure to take sufficient action over his complaints about nuisance from his neighbours in 2018. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault in the Council’s actions which would warrant an investigation.

South Kesteven District Council (19 006 989)

Statement Upheld Antisocial behaviour 12-Feb-2020

Summary: Mr and Mrs C say the Council is at fault for the way it has dealt with their claims that their neighbours were inconsiderate and noisy. They also say the Council accused Mr C of acting inappropriately without evidence. They say this caused them injustice in that they were upset. The Council was at fault for failures at the start of its investigation. Thereafter, it carried out a proportionate, evidence-based inquiry into Mr and Mrs C’s concerns.

London Borough of Barnet (19 008 782)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Antisocial behaviour 12-Feb-2020

Summary: Ms X complained about the Council’s failure to take action over construction noise near her home. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault which has caused injustice to Ms X.

London Borough of Enfield (19 014 892)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Antisocial behaviour 11-Feb-2020

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s decision to take action against him for allegedly playing loud music. The Council issued him with a noise abatement notice, then fined him when he allegedly breached the notice. We will not investigate this complaint as it would have been reasonable for Mr X to raise both matters with the courts.

Shropshire Council (18 016 103)

Statement Upheld Antisocial behaviour 07-Feb-2020

Summary: The Council failed to properly consider whether to take action to deal with fly-tipping on private and unregistered land. It also delayed responding to Mr B’s emails and telephone calls. The Council has agreed to properly consider whether to take action to deal with the fly-tipping and review the way it deals with contact from residents.