London Borough of Havering (19 016 344)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 24-Feb-2020

Summary: Mr B complains about matters related to his requests for tree preservation orders. The Ombudsman should not pursue this complaint because the matters complained of have not caused significant enough injustice.

London Borough of Harrow (19 016 385)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 23-Feb-2020

Summary: Mr X complains about damage to a block of garages he says was caused by trees on council land. Mr X is also unhappy about a lack of ongoing work to the trees, and recent work to the trees which caused further damage to the garages. The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint. Much of it is late and there is no good reason for the Ombudsman to exercise its discretion to investigate. It was also reasonable for Mr X to use the legal remedy available to him, and it is unlikely we could add anything to the Council's responses.

Birmingham City Council (19 011 317)

Statement Not upheld Trees 20-Feb-2020

Summary: Ms D complains the Council failed to cut back high trees, on its land, which block light into her garden. The Ombudsman has not found any evidence of fault by the Council. He has completed the investigation and not upheld the complaint.

Surrey County Council (19 016 630)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 19-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint that a Council-owned tree is causing damage to the complainant’s property. This is because there is insufficient evidence of administrative fault in the way the Council reached its decision to retain the tree, and it is reasonable to expect the complainant to pursue court action if she believes the Council is liable for the damage.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (19 016 069)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 18-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council accepting an application to cut down trees. This is because an investigation is unlikely to find fault causing significant injustice to Mr X.

Wakefield City Council (19 014 449)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 17-Feb-2020

Summary: Mrs Y complains that the Council has not maintained a tree next to her property. The Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint because there is no evidence of fault by the Council.

London Borough of Bromley (19 014 586)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 13-Feb-2020

Summary: Mr X complains on behalf of this mother about the Council’s refusal to remove a tree from the footway outside her house. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint. We have not seen evidence of fault in the way the Council decided not to remove the tree. And further investigation is unlikely to lead to a different outcome.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (19 015 101)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 11-Feb-2020

Summary: Mr B complains on behalf of himself and his neighbours that the Council has failed to cut back a tree that overhangs their communal garden. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because it is unlikely we would find fault by the council.

Northampton Borough Council (19 014 467)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 04-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision not to do works to trees near Mr X’s property. There is not enough evidence of fault in the way the Council assessed the state of the trees and the maintenance work required. The Ombudsman cannot question the merits of a council’s properly made decision. He cannot choose which conflicting professional assessment of the same trees is the correct one. There is also insufficient evidence of significant personal injustice to Mr X to warrant an Ombudsman investigation. Damage caused to Mr X’s property is an insurance or civil matter which he can refer to the Council’s insurers, or to the courts.

Darlington Borough Council (19 012 216)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 31-Jan-2020

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s failure to remove excess growth from trees on its land on his property boundary. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.