London Borough of Waltham Forest (20 011 091)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Licensing 05-Mar-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal to intervene between Mr Q and another freeholder regarding the bin storage area at the front of their property. This is because we are unlikely to find fault with the Council.

Plymouth City Council (20 005 196)

Statement Upheld Antisocial behaviour 04-Mar-2021

Summary: The Ombudsman found fault on Mr Y’s complaint about the way the Council dealt with his report of homophobic abuse. It failed to ensure these were referred on to the police. The agreed action remedies the injustice caused. There was no fault in the way it dealt with his reports of noise or antisocial behaviour.

Lincolnshire County Council (20 009 168)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Drainage 04-Mar-2021

Summary: Mr & Mrs X complain about the granting of planning permission for two new houses in 2014 causing flooding at their home. They also complain about the flood resilience grant offered by the Council. We will not investigate this complaint because the Council was not responsible for granting planning permission. And I have not seen evidence of fault in the way the Council offered the grant.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (20 010 629)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Cemeteries and crematoria 04-Mar-2021

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s handling of matters related to the funeral of his mother. We will not investigate the complaint because we are unlikely to find evidence of fault by the Council.

Dorset Council (20 010 935)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Pollution 04-Mar-2021

Summary: We cannot investigate Miss C’s complaint about the Council’s approach to air pollution. This is because Miss C does not complain as a member of the public because she is complaining on behalf of a parish council.

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (20 011 355)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Pollution 04-Mar-2021

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s failure to take action against smoke emission from a neighbour’s chimney. We will not investigate the complaint because we are unlikely to find evidence of fault.

North Devon District Council (20 005 183)

Statement Upheld Noise 03-Mar-2021

Summary: The Council was at fault for the severe delay in responding to this complaint, and it has agreed to write a formal letter of apology to complainant for this. However, we cannot find fault on the substantive matters in the complaint, because they are too old or too speculative for the Ombudsman to investigate.

Birmingham City Council (19 019 343)

Statement Upheld Refuse and recycling 03-Mar-2021

Summary: Miss X complained the Council took six months to make a bulky waste collection she had requested. She also complained that although she should receive an assisted waste collection service, the Council has repeatedly failed to collect her waste and when it does, the crews do not return her bin when it is empty. The Council’s delay in collecting Miss X’s bulky waste items, and the failings in the assisted collection service it provides to Miss X amount to fault. These faults have caused Miss X an injustice.

Brighton & Hove City Council (20 004 939)

Statement Not upheld Pollution 02-Mar-2021

Summary: There was no fault by the Council in a complaint that alleged the Council failed to take enforcement action against light pollution from a football stadium.

Broadland District Council (20 008 563)

Statement Not upheld Pollution 02-Mar-2021

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to properly investigate complaints about statutory noise and pollution nuisance from his neighbour since 2009. Mr X says this caused he and his family physical and mental stress due to noise from machinery and inhalation of smoke from large fires. The Ombudsman does not find fault with the Council’s actions.