Peak District National Park Authority (19 005 323)

Statement Upheld Leisure and culture 31-Jan-2020

Summary: Mr C says the Authority should take payments for services over the phone as well as online as its failure to do so adversely affects those mainly the elderly, who do not use the internet. The Authority was at fault. It has agreed to carry out an equality assessment, apologise to Mr C and give him two tickets for a walk.

Durham County Council (19 014 193)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Leisure and culture 31-Jan-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr B’s complaint about changes to gym membership fees implemented by the Council and its failure to properly publicise them. This is because no useful outcome is likely to be achieved as a result of an investigation by the Ombudsman.

Portsmouth City Council (19 014 430)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Land 31-Jan-2020

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s failure to take action over a caravan placed on private land in his street. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council which has caused any injustice to Mr X.

South Norfolk District Council (19 015 575)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Leisure and culture 31-Jan-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s disclosure of her anonymous feedback and failure to provide her with access to information about her. This is because the Information Commissioner’s Office is the most appropriate body to consider her concerns.

Worcester City Council (19 013 729)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Land 30-Jan-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint that the Council disposed of a former allotment site and then granted planning permission for development on it. He cannot alter the decision to allow the disposal of the land as this was made by the Secretary of State. There is no evidence of fault in how the Council considered the planning application for the development.

Plymouth City Council (19 013 264)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Leisure and culture 30-Jan-2020

Summary: Mr and Mrs B complain about the Council’s handling of matters relating to the accessing of allotments adjacent to their property. 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.

South Oxfordshire District Council (19 015 793)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 28-Jan-2020

Summary: Mr P complains that the Council failed to fully investigate his allegation that a company contracted to provide a council service committed fraud. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because Mr P has not suffered a direct personal injustice.

London Borough of Hounslow (19 010 425)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 27-Jan-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr C’s complaint about breach of his confidentiality and about the Council’s conduct because his injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement. Moreover, the Council has already apologised so it is unlikely we would be able to add anything more to the investigation. Where we are not investigating the underlying matter, we would not investigate the Council’s complaint handling.

Derbyshire County Council (19 005 948)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Land 27-Jan-2020

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council disposing of land granted to it in the early 20th century for development and profit. The Ombudsman should not exercise his discretion to investigate this complaint. This is because the complaint was received outside the normal 12-month period for receiving complaints. The Council transferred the land to a college in 1997 and this was a legal matter which could only be challenged in the courts.

Bristol City Council (19 013 122)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Councillor conduct and standards 27-Jan-2020

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s decision not to uphold his complaint that a councillor failed to declare a non-pecuniary interest. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint. It is unlikely we will find fault in the way the Council considered his complaint. And we cannot achieve the outcome he is seeking.