Luton Borough Council (20 002 474)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 08-Oct-2020

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s handling of matters relating to unauthorised building works close to his property. The Ombudsman will not investigate the complaint because it is unlikely we can add to the investigation already carried out by the Council and an investigation is unlikely to lead to a different outcome.

London Borough of Redbridge (20 003 013)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 08-Oct-2020

Summary: Miss X complained the Council has taken no formal enforcement action after she had reported that her neighbour had not built his extension according to the approved plan. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint. This is because it is unlikely that we would find fault in how the Council reached its decision.

Bristol City Council (19 018 323)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 07-Oct-2020

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s handling of planning matters relating to his neighbour’s extension works which encroach over the boundary between their properties. The Ombudsman will not investigate the complaint because it is unlikely we can add to the investigation carried out by the Council and an investigation is unlikely to lead to a different outcome.

Luton Borough Council (19 018 308)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 05-Oct-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman has not investigated this complaint, about the expansion of an airport. Although the Council owns the airport, it is not a local authority administrative function, and so does not fall into the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction. A planning application, relating to the expansion, remains outstanding, and so the Ombudsman will not investigate this matter now.

South Somerset District Council (20 003 906)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 05-Oct-2020

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

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (19 009 390)

Statement Not upheld Enforcement 02-Oct-2020

Summary: Ms B complains about the Council’s handling of her concerns about her neighbour’s building work. There is no evidence of fault in the Council’s approach in Ms B’s case. The Council has explained its limited role in building control work by private Approved Inspectors and its view that Ms B neighbour’s work is allowed under permitted development rights. The Ombudsman cannot question the merits of the Council’s view where there is no evidence of procedural fault.

Guildford Borough Council (19 015 754)

Statement Not upheld Enforcement 02-Oct-2020

Summary: Mrs C complains about the Council’s consideration of a retrospective planning application for replacement windows and its response to her subsequent reports of planning breaches. Mrs C says she has spent unnecessary time and trouble and suffers from unacceptable overlooking and loss of privacy. The Ombudsman has found no evidence of fault.

London Borough of Barnet (20 003 716)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 02-Oct-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a breach of planning control. This is because the complainant has already used her right to appeal to a government minister. Parts of the complaint are also late, and it is unlikely the Ombudsman would find fault with the remaining issues complained about.

London Borough of Bromley (19 015 254)

Statement Not upheld Enforcement 30-Sep-2020

Summary: There was no fault in how the Council decided not to take enforcement action when the complainant’s neighbour built an extension. The Council took into account all the relevant factors when it decided not to take action.

London Borough of Merton (19 015 422)

Statement Upheld Enforcement 28-Sep-2020

Summary: Mr D says the Council failed to enforce planning conditions on a neighbouring property to prevent a loss of privacy. There is fault by the Council including considerable delay. The Ombudsman has upheld the complaint and completed the investigation. The Council agrees to pay financial redress to Mr D and has given an undertaking to progress the case.