Waverley Borough Council (20 003 436)

Statement Upheld Enforcement 02-Feb-2021

Summary: Mr and Mrs B complained that the Council failed to properly consider their concerns regarding a neighbour’s driveway which they said was causing dampness in their garage. They said the Council delayed in acting on their evidence, ignored their evidence and failed to communicate with them properly. They also complained that the Council directed them to obtain a surveyor’s report at a cost of £660 to prove that the driveway was causing the problem. The Council accepts its communication was at fault and has offered £250 for Mr and Mrs B’s time and trouble. We also found the Council at fault for suggesting Mr and Mrs B should obtain a professional report to decide the issue. The Council has agreed to pay Mr and Mrs B a total of £500.

Dartmoor National Park Authority (20 008 412)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 02-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr and Mrs X’s complaint that the Authority took unjustified enforcement action against them in two courts in 2015. The complaint is made late and there is no good reason to exercise discretion to investigate.

Forest of Dean District Council (20 009 053)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 02-Feb-2021

Summary: Mr X complains about the way the Council dealt with planning applications for a neighbour. We will not investigate this complaint because it is partly out of time and there is no personal significant injustice caused to warrant investigation.

Bristol City Council (20 009 450)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 02-Feb-2021

Summary: Ms X complains about the Council’s failure to take enforcement action against a neighbouring property. We will not investigate this complaint because there is insufficient personal injustice to Ms X to warrant investigation by the Ombudsman.

Dartmoor National Park Authority (20 009 189)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 02-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr and Mrs X’s complaint about the Authority’s planning actions regarding ‘Property A’ and the impact on their home which is a listed building. The complaint is made late, there is no reason to exercise discretion to investigate, and no injustice.

West Suffolk Council (19 015 428)

Statement Not upheld Enforcement 28-Jan-2021

Summary: Mr D complains that there was fault and delay by the Council in investigating his complaint about the siting of a shipping container next to his back garden. He says the Council wrongly allowed it to remain in place for 23 months and that this affected his amenity and caused him considerable frustration and annoyance. The Ombudsman has found no fault in the way the Council responded to Mr D’s concerns.

Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (20 003 541)

Statement Not upheld Enforcement 27-Jan-2021

Summary: Mr D complained there was fault in the way the Authority dealt with a breach of planning permission. We find the Authority was not at fault.

Selby District Council (20 002 113)

Statement Not upheld Enforcement 22-Jan-2021

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council’s decision to approve a housing development on land behind her home. We ended our investigation as we are unlikely to find fault or a significant injustice to Mrs X.

Lancashire County Council (20 004 064)

Statement Not upheld Enforcement 22-Jan-2021

Summary: Mr B’s complained the Council failed to control activity on land near his home. He said the site was being used to store scrap metal and process waste. Mr B complained about the noise and impact on his view and said it has negatively affected his mental health. We have not found fault with the Council.

Canterbury City Council (19 014 218)

Statement Upheld Enforcement 22-Jan-2021

Summary: We found avoidable delay by the Council in responding to continuing non-compliance with an enforcement notice affecting land near X’s home. To put right the frustration the delay caused X, the Council agreed to decide what further enforcement action it would take and quickly act on that decision. The Council also agreed to tell X of its decision.