Hertsmere Borough Council (17 014 811)

Statement Upheld Licensing 10-May-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman found fault by the Council on Mr F’s complaint that it wrongly revoked his private hire vehicle’s licence and the procedures it followed. It failed to keep records, did not give him full details of the allegation and allow him to address it before its decision, and gave him inaccurate and misleading information. There was no fault on his complaint about it delaying hearing his appeal. The Council agreed to apologise to him for the failures, review procedures, and pay him £550.

London Borough of Brent (18 015 190)

Statement Not upheld Licensing 10-May-2019

Summary: Mr X complains that the Council has not taken satisfactory action about his report of an unlicensed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) next door. He also complains about the way the Council has handled his complaint. He says the neighbours cause a nuisance which affects his health and work, and cause him ongoing psychological trauma. He says the sale of his house fell through when he told the buyer about the neighbours. The Ombudsman does not find fault with the Council.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council (18 019 876)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Licensing 09-May-2019

Summary: Mr X, who is a taxi driver, complains about how the Council dealt with him when it caught him driving in a bus lane. He is also unhappy the Council has not acted against a public house he says served an intoxicated customer. The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaints. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault causing significant personal injustice to warrant the Ombudsman’s involvement.

North Hertfordshire District Council (18 011 664)

Statement Not upheld Licensing 08-May-2019

Summary: Ms X complained about the Council’s handling of a licensing application and hearing. She complained the Council failed to appropriately respond to, or learn from her complaint about these matters. The Council dealt appropriately with Ms X’s complaint about its handling of this matter and a related councillor issue. We have not investigated the Council’s decision to award the license because Ms X had a right of appeal at the magistrates court. Her concerns about the process are indivisible from the merits of that decision. Ms X could have appealed against the licensing decision.

Bolsover District Council (18 019 732)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Licensing 03-May-2019

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council failing to properly manage a wildflower area which is next to his home. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault which has caused injustice to Mr X.

Newcastle upon Tyne City Council (17 017 267)

Statement Upheld Licensing 29-Apr-2019

Summary: Mr B complains that officers repeatedly assured him that the process was in place to redesignate the area from which he had long operated a trailer selling food, so that it would no longer be prohibited for street trading. He says without these assurances, he would not have incurred significant costs applying for a late-night premises licence which he then could not use when the street was not redesignated. The Ombudsman considers that Mr B was led to believe that the redesignation of the street was in hand, and it was likely that this that led him to apply for and incur the cost of a late-night premises licence. However, the Ombudsman does not consider that this has caused Mr B injustice which would warrant a financial remedy, because the cost of applying for a late-night licence was more than outweighed by the Council having allowed him to trade unlawfully from the site for 18 months while in discussions with him.

Telford & Wrekin Council (18 010 185)

Statement Not upheld Licensing 29-Apr-2019

Summary: Mr B complains about the Council’s consideration of breaches of the site licence conditions, planning and other matters about the running and management of the mobile home site where he lives. There are no new issues here that should be investigated further. The Council is yet to respond to Mr B on his concerns about whether his mobile home is level so I do not consider I should investigate that further now.