Bristol City Council (19 010 220)

Statement Upheld Enforcement 27-Oct-2020

Summary: A resident’s association complained the Council failed to properly consider their enforcement reports and failed to consider key factors when reaching a decision not to take enforcement action in respect of a site that is an Asset of Community Value (ACV). There was fault by the Council in respect of the earliest reports the group made. The records kept are poor and it took too long to reach a decision. However, we did not find fault in the Council’s decision not to take enforcement action. The Council agreed to apologise and review its record keeping and communication for enforcement reports.

South Cambridgeshire District Council (20 003 484)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 27-Oct-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council will not take enforcement action to remove two small neighbouring fences which he says affect views from a vehicle leaving his property and causes a risk to users of the footpath. The Council has not caused Mr X an injustice. Investigation would not be a good use of limited public resources or achieve the outcome Mr X wants.

Maidstone Borough Council (19 016 061)

Statement Not upheld Enforcement 23-Oct-2020

Summary: Mr and Mrs X complain the Council failed to protect their amenities by enforcing breaches of planning controls. We ended our investigation because the planning process is ongoing.

Mansfield District Council (20 004 899)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 21-Oct-2020

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s failure to take enforcement action over neighbours who park caravans on their driveways. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Mansfield District Council (20 004 075)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 21-Oct-2020

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s refusal to take planning enforcement action. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because the matter is out of time.

Amber Valley Borough Council (20 005 382)

Statement Not upheld Enforcement 19-Oct-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman has stopped our investigation into Mr X’s complaint as he took too long to complain about the Council’s decision to grant planning permission for a residential development. The development also caused no direct injustice to Mr X. We have also found no fault in the way the Council dealt with Mr X’s complaint about a temporary road built to allow construction work to take place.

Amber Valley Borough Council (19 001 598)

Statement Not upheld Enforcement 19-Oct-2020

Summary: We have stopped our investigation into Mr X’s complaint as he took too long to complain about the Council’s decision to grant planning permission for a residential development. We have also found no fault in the way the Council dealt with Mr X’s complaint about a temporary road built to allow construction work to take place.

Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council (20 004 607)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 19-Oct-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about a planning enforcement matter. This is because it is unlikely we would find fault by the Council.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council (20 001 234)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 09-Oct-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with planning applications for a site near the complainant’s business or how it has dealt with breaches of planning control. This is because parts of the complaint are late, and the Ombudsman cannot yet determine if the complainant has suffered injustice.

Hertfordshire County Council (19 016 454)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 09-Oct-2020

Summary: Mr C says the Council was at fault for failures to enforce planning decisions concerning agricultural waste processing units close to his house. He says he has suffered injustice because he has incurred costs and the unit has caused unpleasant noise and smells which disturb his enjoyment of his home. The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr C’s complaint. The facts upon which the complaint is based have already been considered by the planning inspectorate.