Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council (19 016 318)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 02-Mar-2020

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s lack of satisfactory investigation when he reported his bin missing after a collection. We will not investigate this complaint. We cannot say now what happened to the bin, and we cannot say Mr X’s injustice was caused solely by the Council’s actions. It is unlikely we could therefore provide a meaningful outcome for Mr X.

Liverpool City Council (19 017 086)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Health and safety 01-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s alleged failure to deal with various environmental health issues he says are related to his neighbour. This is because the complaint is late and there is no reason Mr X could not have complained to the Ombudsman much earlier.

North Somerset Council (19 012 922)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Antisocial behaviour 28-Feb-2020

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council’s failure to take sufficient action over noise from a neighbour’s washing machine. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Wyre Borough Council (19 015 241)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 28-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint arising from a fixed penalty notice for a littering offence. Only a court can decide if the complainant committed the offence. The complainant has already raised concerns about the provision of information with the Information Commissioner.

Liverpool City Council (19 016 485)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 28-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Ms B’s complaint that the Council has not been carrying out thorough scheduled cleans of the estate in which she lives. This is because the Council has now taken action to address the problem and an investigation by the Ombudsman would not achieve any useful outcome.

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (19 016 535)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 28-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr C’s complaint about a council officer pursuing his wife from outside a park. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Bath and North East Somerset Council (19 017 080)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trading standards 28-Feb-2020

Summary: Mr B complains about the Council’s decision to treat him as a vexatious complainant. The Ombudsman will not investigate the complaint because there is no evidence of fault by the Council or injustice caused to Mr B sufficient to warrant an investigation.

London Borough of Merton (19 006 254)

Statement Upheld Refuse and recycling 28-Feb-2020

Summary: Mr A says the Council has missed waste collections and wants him to contribute towards the cost of a new waste collection point at his home. The Ombudsman has found some evidence of fault by the Council regarding missed collections. There is no fault in respect of the new waste collection arrangements. He has upheld the complaint and completed the investigation because the Council has agreed to drop the requirement for a new collection point.

Suffolk County Council (19 008 836)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 28-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate how the Council considered the complainant’s concerns about fire risk from a hairdressing business at a neighbouring property. It is unlikely he would find evidence of fault by the Council as its fire protection officer has no concerns about the business.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (19 009 956)

Statement Not upheld Refuse and recycling 27-Feb-2020

Summary: Mr B says the Council has failed to require waste from a new development to be collected from the internal refuse area. It has, instead, required residents to leave bins for collection on a private road without permission. Mr B says the bins are unsightly and cause an obstruction. The Council was not at fault. It considered Mr B’s complaints thoroughly and made lawful decisions.