Middle Level Commissioners (20 005 018)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Drainage 31-Mar-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Commissioners are failing to prosecute when there is a breach of byelaws intended to protect ‘the banks’ of drainage channels. There is no injustice to Mr X and we cannot achieve what he wants.

Worthing Borough Council (20 005 240)

Statement Upheld Noise 31-Mar-2021

Summary: There was no fault in how the Council investigated an alleged noise nuisance, nor is there evidence that Council officers’ attitude towards the complainant were unprofessional. There was minor fault in the Council’s complaint handling, but this did not cause an injustice. We have therefore completed our investigation.

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 (20 007 914)

Report Upheld Noise 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).

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).

Dorset Council (20 002 610)

Statement Not upheld Covid-19 30-Mar-2021

Summary: Mrs D complains the Council failed to deal effectively with anti-social behaviour which arose after it moved homeless people into hotels near her home during the COVID-19 lockdown. We have not found fault.

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council (20 005 475)

Statement Not upheld Antisocial behaviour 30-Mar-2021

Summary: There is no fault in the Council’s policy for investigating reports of noise nuisance and anti-social behaviour. For this reason, we have completed our investigation.

Broadland District Council (20 007 735)

Statement Not upheld Noise 30-Mar-2021

Summary: There was no fault by the Council in a complaint that it did not act on alleged noise nuisance caused by a neighbour.

East Lindsey District Council (20 007 775)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 30-Mar-2021

Summary: Mr X says the homes of a group of residents whom he represents have been damaged by works on land owned by the Council. I have discontinued investigation of this complaint because Mr X and the other residents have a legal remedy available against the Council.

Hartlepool Borough Council (18 015 426)

Statement Upheld Antisocial behaviour 30-Mar-2021

Summary: We upheld part of Mr X’s complaint about how the Council responded to his concerns about anti-social behaviour. There was no fault in the Council’s decision not to take further action about the anti-social behaviour. However, there were faults in its communication with Mr X and it failed to tell him about the Community Trigger. The Council agreed to share information about the Community Trigger with Mr X. It will also update us on its progress towards promoting use of the Community Trigger.