Epping Forest District Council (18 013 509)

Statement Not upheld Other 18-Jun-2019

Summary: There was no fault in the way the Council decided Transport for London did not need to apply for prior consent to carry out noise generating activities near Mr B’s home. The Council has not received any statutory nuisance complaints and has no power to deal with Mr B’s other concerns about the works because they do not require planning permission and the Council is not the Highways Authority.

London Borough of Bromley (19 000 977)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 17-Jun-2019

Summary: Mr X complains the Council has failed to take action against a pub following his complaint about hygiene. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint. This is because we have not seen any evidence of fault in the Council’s actions. Nor do we consider Mr X has suffered a significant personal injustice which warrants our involvement.

Birmingham City Council (18 005 318)

Statement Not upheld Other 14-Jun-2019

Summary: The Council was not at fault for deciding not to conduct covert surveillance of Mr B’s local park to identify individuals responsible for fly-tipping, and for not taking enforcement action. The Council properly considered the use of its powers but decided not to use them, and explained why. As a result, I cannot question its decision.

Horsham District Council (19 001 724)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 14-Jun-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the way the Council responded to the complainant’s reports of dog fouling, pigeon droppings and rodents. This is because the complainant has not suffered a significant personal injustice as a result of the alleged faults by the Council.

West Sussex County Council (19 000 423)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 13-Jun-2019

Summary: Mr X complains that an inaccurate statement made by an officer to a Council Committee contributed to the loss of £250 million pounds of funding. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint. This is because he cannot investigate matters which affect all or most of the people in a Council’s area.

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council (19 001 323)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 13-Jun-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s refusal to visit her property and advise about whether further work is required to comply with an Improvement Notice. The Notice set out the actions required and the Tribunal has dismissed Mrs X’s appeal against it. We cannot now investigate any complaint about the requirements of the Notice or say Mrs X does not have to comply with it.

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council (19 000 611)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 03-Jun-2019

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s failure to clear fallen leaves from his property or to pay him for disposing of them. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Southend-on-Sea City Council (19 000 058)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 30-May-2019

Summary: Ms X complains the Council was unhelpful when she asked it for help to cut her hedge. The Ombudsman will not investigate as he cannot add to what the Council has already said.

Wealden District Council (18 014 936)

Statement Not upheld Other 29-May-2019

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to properly investigate and to take action regarding odour nuisance from a neighbouring farm. There is no evidence of fault in the way the Council investigated the odour issue.

Plymouth City Council (19 000 584)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 24-May-2019

Summary: Ms B complains the Council did not give her sufficient opportunity to comment on complaints it had received about her dogs which gave rise to it issuing her with a community protection warning letter. The Ombudsman will not investigate the complaint because it is unlikely we can add to the investigation already carried out by the Council and an investigation is unlikely to lead to a different outcome.