Folkestone & Hythe District Council (19 011 407)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 09-Dec-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the charges imposed by the Council for the replacement of a lost/stolen household waste wheelie bin. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault.

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council (18 018 909)

Statement Upheld Refuse and recycling 09-Dec-2019

Summary: There was no fault in the Council’s decision it could not collect waste directly from the complainant’s property. However, the Council failed to reply to the complaint without prompting from the Ombudsman, for which it has agreed to apologise. The Ombudsman has not investigated the Council’s handling of replacement bins, because the issues are too old and it is unlikely an investigation will add anything meaningful.

Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames (18 008 340)

Statement Upheld Refuse and recycling 09-Dec-2019

Summary: Mr C says the Council has not done enough to control refuse or to prevent fly-tipping on his street thereby putting his family at risk. The Council was at fault for delay in considering and taking action to solve problems with refuse and in collecting fly-tipped waste. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mr C and pay him a sum in recognition of his distress. It says it has devised a new waste collection system for the area.

Northampton Borough Council (19 008 697)

Statement Not upheld Refuse and recycling 09-Dec-2019

Summary: Ms B complains about problems with her bin collection. The Ombudsman has discontinued his investigation because the Council has resolved the problem.

Manchester City Council (19 012 679)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 07-Dec-2019

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

Birmingham City Council (19 005 126)

Statement Upheld Refuse and recycling 03-Dec-2019

Summary: Mr X complains the Council has repeatedly failed to collect his garden waste. This is the third consecutive year Mr X has experienced problems with the green waste collection service. The Council’s repeated failure to collect Mr X’s garden waste amounts to fault. As does the Council’s failure to adequately respond to or address Mr X’s complaints. This fault has caused Mr X an injustice.

Birmingham City Council (19 005 609)

Statement Upheld Refuse and recycling 02-Dec-2019

Summary: Mrs X complains that although she is registered for assisted collections, the Council has repeatedly failed to return her bins to her property after emptying them. The Council’s repeated failure to return Mrs X’s bins to her property as part of the assisted collection service amounts to fault. This fault has caused Mrs X an injustice.

Aylesbury Vale District Council (19 011 428)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 29-Nov-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about garden waste not being collected on one occasion, and the Council’s response to the complainant’s subsequent communications. This is because the Council has apologised, and any remaining injustice is not significant enough to warrant our continued involvement.

Birmingham City Council (19 010 675)

Statement Upheld Refuse and recycling 27-Nov-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about missed garden waste collections. This is because the Council has already provided a proportionate response.

Nottingham City Council (19 010 525)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 26-Nov-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr B’s complaints about damage to his jacket, the Council failing to provide him with information and delays responding to his enquiries. There is no significant injustice to Mr B from the fault he claims.