Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (19 018 511)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Land 19-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr B’s complaint about the way the Council maintained the hedge behind his property. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council so an investigation is not warranted.

Sedgemoor District Council (19 018 754)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 19-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint that the District Council gave incorrect advice to a Parish Council clerk about how freedom of information responses should be sent. This is because the complainant has not suffered a significant personal injustice as a result of the alleged fault by the Council.

Essex County Council (19 007 916)

Statement Upheld Other 18-Mar-2020

Summary: Mrs C complains that two Council-commissioned alcohol treatment and recovery services failed to provide her sister’s late partner, Mr B, with appropriate ‘dual diagnosis’ (alcohol dependence and coexisting bipolar affective disorder) support and treatment. Mrs C says as a result Mr B was unable to maintain permanent abstinence from alcohol and this contributed to his death. The Ombudsman has found fault in some of the communication to Mr B and his family but is satisfied the actions already taken by the provider together with an apology and a service improvement review by the Council provide a suitable remedy.

Allerdale Borough Council (19 017 733)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 18-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the management of Wigton Cemetery because the responsible bodies, parish and town councils, are outside the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction. Allerdale Borough Council will write to Ms X about her standards complaint against the town councillors.

Royal Borough of Greenwich (19 018 799)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 18-Mar-2020

Summary: Mr B complains about the Council’s failure to respond to his complaint about matters relating to his requests for information. The Ombudsman will not investigate the complaint because the Information Commissioner has already dealt with the substantive matter and there are insufficient grounds to warrant an investigation by the Ombudsman of the secondary matters.

Thanet District Council (19 007 102)

Statement Upheld Land 17-Mar-2020

Summary: There was fault by the Council in its handling of a property matter. The Council will apologise and do the legal property work at a reduced fee to remedy the injustice caused.

Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames (19 018 813)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 17-Mar-2020

Summary: Miss X complains the Council lied to her in response to an information request she made to it. This has been addressed by the Information Commissioner’s Office and the Ombudsman cannot add to what it has already said. The Ombudsman will not therefore investigate.

Cambridge City Council (19 017 408)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 16-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint about an aborted private vehicle sale involving the complainant and a Council officer. This is because the Council officer was not performing an administrative function on behalf of the Council.

London Borough of Redbridge (19 001 785)

Statement Upheld Elections and electoral register 13-Mar-2020

Summary: Miss B complains about the Council’s handling of her electoral registration form, which she says delayed her being added to the electoral register. Miss B says an officer was rude to her and the Council failed to make the reasonable adjustments she asked for. The Ombudsman finds some fault by the Council because it did not enter Miss B’s information correctly, but the action it has already taken puts right the injustice Miss B suffered. The Ombudsman finds the Council is not at fault over the other matters which he has investigated.

East Suffolk Council (19 020 488)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 12-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the Council restricting the complainant’s contact with it. It is unlikely the Ombudsman would find evidence of fault by the Council.