Essex County Council (19 020 584)

Statement Upheld Drainage 11-Nov-2020

Summary: Mr C complained the Council unnecessarily removed his hedge to complete drainage works. He also complained about the Council’s complaints handling. The Ombudsman finds the Council was not at fault for removing Mr C's hedge. The Council was at fault for how it responded to Mr C’s complaint, but this did not cause him a significant injustice.

Sunderland City Council (20 005 748)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Drainage 10-Nov-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr B’s complaint that the Council has failed to change the design of a grid in a stream in order to stop repeated blockages. This is because it is unlikely the Ombudsman would find fault in the way the Council reached its decision and a court of law may be the appropriate body to determine the matter.

Test Valley Borough Council (20 004 224)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Drainage 05-Nov-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mrs Q’s complaint about water coming onto her property from Council-owned land which she says has damaged her home. This is because she may go to court about the matter.

Lincolnshire County Council (19 019 636)

Statement Upheld Drainage 29-Oct-2020

Summary: Mrs C complains the Council failed to maintain a nearby drainage system and respond to her reports of issues and take appropriate action. Mrs C says the local area has suffered flooding and she has incurred unnecessary costs. The Ombudsman has found fault in the Council’s record keeping and communication with Mrs C but considers the agreed action of an apology, £250 and procedural improvements are enough to provide a suitable remedy.

Suffolk County Council (20 004 557)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Drainage 20-Oct-2020

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about damage to Mrs Y’s drainage. This is because it is unlikely the Ombudsman would find the Council at fault.

Lincoln City Council (19 013 307)

Statement Upheld Drainage 16-Oct-2020

Summary: Miss C complains the Council failed to properly respond to her family’s reports of flooding from 2018 and to take effective action. Miss C says their business premises and garden has been damaged by flooding. The Ombudsman has found no fault by the Council in the way it dealt with the reports but a period it failed to keep to an agreed maintenance schedule was fault. The Ombudsman considers the actions the Council has already taken to complete the maintenance is enough to provide a suitable remedy.

Devon County Council (20 003 622)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Drainage 13-Oct-2020

Summary: Mr X complains the Council refuses to explain why he was given conflicting information about a highway drain clearance. He also says an officer was flippant towards him. The Ombudsman will not investigate the complaint as we do not consider Mr X has suffered sufficient personal injustice which warrants our involvement.

Witham Fourth District Drainage Board (20 002 754)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Drainage 09-Oct-2020

Summary: Mr X complains that action by the Drainage Board led to his farmland being flooded and damaged. The Ombudsman will not investigate the complaint because it falls outside our jurisdiction as Mr X has an alternative remedy against the Council through the courts.

Herefordshire Council (20 000 313)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Drainage 23-Sep-2020

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s failure to resolve a highway drainage problem which he says has caused damage to his property when it overflows. The Ombudsman should not exercise his discretion to investigate this complaint. This is because it would be reasonable for him to pursue his claim about liability in the courts.

Devon County Council (20 002 524)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Drainage 08-Sep-2020

Summary: Mr X complains a Council officer was rude to him and the Council has failed to repair the drains in his road. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint. We are unlikely to add to the Council’s investigation of his concerns about the officer’s behaviour, nor can we achieve his desired outcome. Mr X’s concerns about the drainage in his road are late and I have seen no good reason to investigate now. Also he can ask the courts to decide whether the Council should repair the road surface.