Nottingham City Council (19 005 969)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 10-Sep-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about works to a verge outside his home. This is because the complaint is late and there is not enough evidence of fault causing injustice. It is also unlikely we could add anything to the Council’s response.

Kent County Council (18 019 033)

Statement Upheld Other 09-Sep-2019

Summary: Mr B complains about works by the Council to a hedge and its response to his subsequent complaint. Mr B says the hedge was left unsightly with large gaps and possible damage which reduced the privacy to the property and left it exposed to traffic noise, pollution and light nuisance. Mr B says this caused his family unnecessary costs, distress and time and trouble. The Ombudsman has found fault by the Council but considers the agreed actions of an apology, payment and service improvements in addition to the already offered further works are enough to provide a suitable remedy.

London Borough of Enfield (19 006 082)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 09-Sep-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about a Fixed Penalty Notice for littering. This is because it is reasonable for Mr X to refuse to pay the fine and to argue his case in court if he wants to challenge it. The courts are better placed than the Ombudsman to consider this matter.

Slough Borough Council (19 001 022)

Statement Upheld Other 05-Sep-2019

Summary: Mr B says the Council removed and destroyed his cars, which he had not abandoned. The cars were stationary for a long time so met the test of an abandoned vehicle. The Council followed the correct process in law to remove and dispose of the cars. Although Mr B was in contact with the Council there was no evidence the cars belonged to him. The Council failed to follow its complaints procedure at stage one; it delayed, and the response was from the officer subject to the complaint. This caused Mr B some anger and frustration. The Council will apologise and remind staff they must follow the published complaints procedure.

Warrington Council (19 001 332)

Statement Not upheld Other 05-Sep-2019

Summary: Mr X complained the Council has not carried out alterations to his property to address noise issues, which was the agreed remedy from his previous complaint to the Ombudsman, and it did not deal with a leak from a neighbouring property. The Ombudsman finds no fault in the way the Council sought to pursue the project to alter Mr X’s property or in the way the Council handled the issue of a leak.

St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council (18 017 735)

Statement Upheld Other 03-Sep-2019

Summary: Mr C complains about the way the Council responded to his reports of nuisance from rabbits entering his garden which have caused damage. The Ombudsman has found fault by the Council in the delay in advising Mr C it did not own the land the rabbits were entering his property from and in providing the landowner’s details. However, the Ombudsman considers the agreed action of an apology is enough to provide a suitable remedy.

Cheshire East Council (19 003 871)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 02-Sep-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr B’s complaint about a request for payment he received from the Council. Further consideration of the complaint would not achieve any more for Mr B.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (19 005 487)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 02-Sep-2019

Summary: Mr X complains about receiving a Fixed Penalty Notice for obstructing the highway. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because Mr X can refuse to pay the notice and defend himself in court.

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (18 016 695)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 30-Aug-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr F’s complaint that the Council wrongly accused his daughter twice of dropping litter. One of the incidents happened too long ago; and there is not enough injustice to warrant investigation which would not, in any case, deliver the outcome Mr F seeks.

Isle of Wight Council (19 001 732)

Statement Not upheld Other 28-Aug-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman has discontinued his investigation of this complaint, about the Council’s handling of a statutory nuisance investigation. This is because all substantive matters are out of time.