East Hampshire District Council (19 002 019)

Statement Not upheld Drainage 04-Sep-2020

Summary: The Council did not fail to ensure a development was completed in accordance with planning conditions relating to flood prevention.

Broadland District Council (20 001 396)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Drainage 26-Aug-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr C’s complaint that the Council has neglected its duties under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. This is because it was reasonable to expect Mr C to appeal against the Abatement Notice if he felt he had grounds to challenge it and a court of law is best placed to consider the matter if it remains unresolved.

Trafford Council (19 020 089)

Statement Not upheld Drainage 24-Aug-2020

Summary: We have discontinued our investigation. The Council has resolved the issues Mrs B complains about, so there is no continued injustice which justifies an investigation.

Staffordshire County Council (19 019 355)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Drainage 30-Jul-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about damage to property from poorly managed drains. This is because it would be reasonable for the complainant to use the legal remedy available.

Gloucestershire County Council (19 002 811)

Statement Upheld Drainage 28-Jul-2020

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to properly consider his reports about a blocked highway drainage gully. We found there was fault by the Council which warranted a remedy.

Essex County Council (19 007 327)

Statement Not upheld Drainage 30-Jun-2020

Summary: Mr L complains on behalf of a flood action group. They complain about the Council’s inaction over flood risk to their village, particularly from the infrastructure of a major road. The Ombudsman does not have evidence of fault with the Council’s decisions on flood prevention work. So we cannot question the merits of its decisions on those matters.

Surrey Heath Borough Council (20 000 656)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Drainage 30-Jun-2020

Summary: Mr X complains about the actions of the Council in connection with water ingress on to his land and that it is seeking to recover large legal costs from him. The Ombudsman cannot investigate the complaint because Mr X has started court action and so the complaint falls outside our jurisdiction.

Kingston Upon Hull City Council (19 012 469)

Statement Upheld Drainage 22-Jun-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council was at fault in the way it investigated a water leak at her property and served a Building Act Notice. The Ombudsman finds the Council was not at fault in the way it investigated the leak and served the Notice. He does find the Council was at fault in the way it responded to Mrs X’s formal complaints about the matter. The Council has already apologised to Mrs X and offered a payment in recognition for the distress caused. So, the Ombudsman has completed his investigation.

Cornwall Council (19 006 665)

Statement Not upheld Drainage 31-Mar-2020

Summary: Mr B complains that the Council has failed to use its powers under the Land Drainage Act 1991 to reinstate an ordinary watercourse resulting in his property being at risk of flooding. The Ombudsman finds no grounds to criticise the Council’s decision that use of its powers was not warranted in this case.