London Borough of Lambeth (21 017 162)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 16-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about damage caused to the complainant’s property by a tree on the public highway. This is because we cannot decide what the Council should pay towards the repairs as the courts are best placed to calculate claims for damages. It is therefore reasonable to expect the complainant to go to court to resolve her claim.

South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council (21 017 263)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 16-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about damage caused to the complainant’s property by a tree belonging to the Council. This is because we cannot decide what the Council should pay towards the repairs as the courts are best placed to calculate claims for damages. It is therefore reasonable to expect the complainant to go to court to resolve her claim.

Cheshire West & Chester Council (21 016 220)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Drainage 16-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about water run-off from the public highway which caused damage to Mr X’s property in 2021. It is reasonable for him to seek a remedy by way of the courts to decide a civil matter.

Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (21 016 563)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 16-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s refuse collection service. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on which complaints we investigate. There is not enough evidence of fault by the Council. Also, the alleged injustice is not enough to warrant an investigation, and it is unlikely we could add anything to the Council’s response.

Maidstone Borough Council (21 006 497)

Statement Upheld Refuse and recycling 16-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr B says the Council failed to act when his neighbours continued to place refuse bins outside his property. There is no fault in how the Council dealt with that issue. However, the Council gave Mr B and his MP incorrect information and failed to respond to an email from Mr B. An apology and reminder to officers is satisfactory remedy.

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council (21 004 233)

Statement Not upheld Antisocial behaviour 16-Mar-2022

Summary: Miss C said the Council was at fault for the way in which it investigated a complaint about antisocial behaviour made against her by a neighbour. The Council was not at fault. It received a complaint and investigated it, as it was required to do.

Coventry City Council (21 016 646)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 15-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about missed bin collections. The issues complained about affect all or most of the people in the local area.

London Borough of Hackney (21 003 344)

Statement Not upheld Antisocial behaviour 15-Mar-2022

Summary: the complainant Mr X complained the Council failed to use its legal powers to control nuisance caused by a neighbour using a firepit and barbeque creating noise, smoke, and odours. The Council says it took expert advice and liaised with the neighbour’s social landlord but did not find evidence of a statutory nuisance or actionable anti-social behaviour. We found the Council acted without fault.

London Borough of Barking & Dagenham (21 010 027)

Statement Upheld Refuse and recycling 15-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s household waste collection. That is because further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

Northumberland County Council (21 016 373)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 15-Mar-2022

Summary: Ms X complains about the manner in which a Council officer spoke to her. We will not investigate the complaint because it is unlikely we can add to the investigation already carried out by the Council or that an investigation will lead to a different outcome.