Arun District Council (21 009 568)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 22-Nov-2021

Summary: We will not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint about the Council’s maintenance of a protected tree on Mrs X’s boundary. It is reasonable for her to seek a remedy in the courts about liability for damage to her property or personal injury.

Northumberland County Council (21 010 788)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 22-Nov-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to prune and not remove a tree between the road and his house. There is not enough evidence of fault in the officers’ decision-making process to justify us investigating. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s internal complaint process in isolation, as we are not investigating the core issue which gave rise to the complaint.

Milton Keynes Council (20 013 084)

Statement Upheld Trees 22-Nov-2021

Summary: Mr X complained that Council owned trees deposit large amounts of leaves in his garden and on his front drive. Mr X complained the Council failed to consider his disability when handling his complaint and reaching its decision. Mr X says the leaves become slippery and this makes it dangerous for him to leave his property because of his disability. The Ombudsman found fault with the Council for failing to consider reasonable adjustments for Mr X’s disability. The Council agreed to the Ombudsman’s recommendation to apologise to Mr X, review Mr X’s request for a reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act and develop a Council wide policy for considering reasonable adjustments.

Leicester City Council (21 003 097)

Statement Not upheld Trees 18-Nov-2021

Summary: The Council was not at fault for the way it approved planning permission for a development near to Mr X’s home.

London Borough of Bromley (21 008 356)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 18-Nov-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a planning application for a property near Mr X’s home. This is because there is no evidence of fault in the way the Council considered the application.

Sheffield City Council (21 010 338)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 17-Nov-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to remove a tree from outside the complainant’s home. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. There is not enough evidence of fault by the Council.

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council (21 011 765)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 16-Nov-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Miss B’s complaint that her property has been damaged by a Council owned tree. This is because it is reasonable for Miss B to take the Council to court, which is in the best position to decide the matter.

South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council (21 010 083)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 11-Nov-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision not to remove two trees next to Mr X’s property. The 2019 events in Mr X’s complaint are late and there are no good reasons to investigate them now. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s 2021 decision‑making process to warrant us investigating.

Cambridge City Council (21 009 582)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 10-Nov-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about how the Council has dealt with a privately-owned tree next to one of its parks. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s decision-making process, or of a significant personal injustice to Dr X, to warrant us investigating.

London Borough of Wandsworth (21 009 542)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 09-Nov-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about damage caused to the complainant’s fence and plants by the Council. It is reasonable for him to seek a remedy by submitting an insurance claim and if not successful, taking the matter to court.