Boston Borough Council (20 011 928)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 31-Mar-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council charging for new bins. There is not enough evidence of fault by the Council to warrant an Ombudsman investigation.

Bristol City Council (20 007 915)

Report Upheld Refuse and recycling 30-Mar-2021

Summary: We are issuing this report because the Council failed to provide evidence of compliance with recommendations we made in two cases.. Environmental Services and Public Protection and Regulation – refuse and recycling (20 007 915) In January 2020, the Council agreed to apologise to Mr X for failing to resolve his issues with refuse collections, monitor the collections at his property for at least two months and review its missed collections policy (reference 19 004 573).. Environmental Services and Public Protection and Regulation – noise (20 007 914) In March 2020, the Council agreed to apologise to Mr Y for the injustice caused by the Council’s poor communications about its investigation into his noise nuisance complaint, remind officers of the need to store case-specific files so any member of the team can access them, review noise nuisance cases every four weeks and ensure the deadlines for responding to stage two complaints are met (reference 19 002 308).

Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council (19 019 076)

Statement Upheld Refuse and recycling 26-Mar-2021

Summary: Mrs B complains the Council has repeatedly failed to collect her bins on the scheduled day and return them to the agreed location outside her house. Mrs B says she has experienced frustration and inconvenience due to this. The Ombudsman finds the Council at fault. To remedy the injustice Mrs B has experienced, the Council has agreed to apologise to Mrs X, make a payment to reflect the injustice caused and make certain service improvements.

Durham County Council (20 012 161)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 24-Mar-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council did not collect the complainant’s bulky waste. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Manchester City Council (20 008 091)

Statement Upheld Refuse and recycling 22-Mar-2021

Summary: The Council was at fault for missing Mr X’s bin collections for part of October 2020. It has already accepted fault, explained why the collections were missed, apologised, and improved its practice. These actions have already remedied Mr X’s injustice.

Medway Council (20 008 096)

Statement Upheld Refuse and recycling 19-Mar-2021

Summary: Mrs F complained to the Council about the conduct of the contractors who were reversing onto her driveway and behaving in an antisocial manner. The Council apologised to Mrs F and agreed to carry out actions to remedy her complaint which Mrs F says it did not do. She also complained about the Council’s handling of her complaint. We find fault with the Council’s handling of the complaint. It has agreed to apologise to Mrs F and pay her £150 for putting her to the time and trouble of complaining and for the upset caused by antisocial behaviour.

Birmingham City Council (20 012 075)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 18-Mar-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about an allegation of damage caused by the Council from a leaky refuse lorry, as it would be reasonable for Mr J to ask a court to decide the question of legal liability for the damage. The Council has taken action to reduce any future risk and there is not enough evidence of administrative fault by the Council to warrant investigation.

Birmingham City Council (20 011 546)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 15-Mar-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the time the Council collects the rubbish from the complainants’ home. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

London Borough of Lewisham (20 011 042)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 12-Mar-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the complainant’s garden waste collections. This is because it is unlikely an investigation would add to the Council’s response and Mr X has not been caused any significant injustice. It is for the courts to determine if there has been a breach of contract.

London Borough of Redbridge (20 011 173)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 11-Mar-2021

Summary: Mr X complained about the Fixed Penalty Notice issued to him by the Council for putting his rubbish out on the wrong day. We will not investigate the complaint because the Council has taken action to cancel the Notice and has confirmed no further action will be taken in relation to it.