London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (20 006 568)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 23-Nov-2020

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s decision to serve a planning enforcement notice upon him. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because he had a right of appeal to a Planning Inspector.

East Lindsey District Council (19 015 864)

Statement Upheld Enforcement 20-Nov-2020

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s refusal to take planning enforcement action and its handling of his complaint. The Ombudsman finds the Council at fault in its decision making process and in its handling of Mr X’s complaint. The Ombudsman recommends the Council provides an apology, makes a payment for time and trouble, reinvestigates Mr X’s allegations and acts to prevent recurrence.

North East Derbyshire District Council (20 006 092)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 19-Nov-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of a planning enforcement matter. The alleged breach of planning control does not cause Mr X significant injustice and it is not a good use of resources to investigate separately the Council’s handling of Mr X’s complaint about the issue.

London Borough of Ealing (20 006 279)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 18-Nov-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision not to enforce against a neighbouring property’s breach of a planning condition requiring the construction and retention of a bin store. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s decision not to use its discretionary enforcement powers, or a significant personal injustice caused to Mr X by the matter, to justify an Ombudsman investigation.

Westminster City Council (20 005 152)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 17-Nov-2020

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s failure to take enforcement action over a nearby development which he says does not comply with the approved plans. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Halton Borough Council (19 017 467)

Statement Not upheld Enforcement 16-Nov-2020

Summary: The Council has not yet completed work to improve communication with residents about a local development, but this has not caused Mr X significant personal injustice.

Nottingham City Council (20 000 553)

Statement Not upheld Enforcement 13-Nov-2020

Summary: Ms X complained about the Council’s refusal to begin planning enforcement action against her neighbour, who she alleges is unlawfully running a business in breach of planning controls. Ms X says the business causes noise which disturbs her and causes distress. There is no evidence of fault in the decision-making process.

Forest of Dean District Council (20 002 718)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 11-Nov-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains about the conduct of planning enforcement officers during a planning enforcement investigation. I have stopped investigating this complaint. No further action is needed as the issue is not one the Ombudsman can deal with.

South Cambridgeshire District Council (18 014 442)

Statement Upheld Enforcement 11-Nov-2020

Summary: Mr X complains the Council allowed a neighbouring business to install external lighting bollards, which shine into his home. He says the Council did not properly consider the impact of the bollards on his amenity and made errors in the way it dealt with the application. The Ombudsman finds fault in how the Council managed the planning procedure and in its response to Mr X’s complaint.

Southend-on-Sea City Council (20 005 920)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 10-Nov-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains that the Council did not investigate properly her complaints of breaches of planning control of properties not owned by her. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because there is no significant personal injustice caused to her by this to warrant investigation.