Kyle and Upper Ouse Internal Drainage Board (19 012 795)

Statement Upheld Drainage 18-Nov-2020

Summary: Mr X complained the Internal Drainage Board failed to investigate and take action in relation to an unconsented culvert on a neighbour's land which has caused flooding and damage to his land and property. It also failed to respond to his complaint. The Internal Drainage Board was at fault. It failed to explain why it would not take action and delayed responding to the complaint. It has agreed to apologise to Mr X and pay him £250. It has also agreed to inspect the watercourse and explain to Mr X its decision on whether or not to take action.

Northumberland County Council (19 015 012)

Statement Not upheld Drainage 13-Nov-2020

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council's investigation into her neighbour's defective drainage system. The Ombudsman found no evidence of fault.

Essex County Council (19 020 584)

Statement Upheld Drainage 11-Nov-2020

Summary: Mr C complained the Council unnecessarily removed his hedge to complete drainage works. He also complained about the Council's complaints handling. The Ombudsman finds the Council was not at fault for removing Mr C's hedge. The Council was at fault for how it responded to Mr C's complaint, but this did not cause him a significant injustice.

Lincolnshire County Council (19 019 636)

Statement Upheld Drainage 29-Oct-2020

Summary: Mrs C complains the Council failed to maintain a nearby drainage system and respond to her reports of issues and take appropriate action. Mrs C says the local area has suffered flooding and she has incurred unnecessary costs. The Ombudsman has found fault in the Council's record keeping and communication with Mrs C but considers the agreed action of an apology, £250 and procedural improvements are enough to provide a suitable remedy.

Lincoln City Council (19 013 307)

Statement Upheld Drainage 16-Oct-2020

Summary: Miss C complains the Council failed to properly respond to her family's reports of flooding from 2018 and to take effective action. Miss C says their business premises and garden has been damaged by flooding. The Ombudsman has found no fault by the Council in the way it dealt with the reports but a period it failed to keep to an agreed maintenance schedule was fault. The Ombudsman considers the actions the Council has already taken to complete the maintenance is enough to provide a suitable remedy.

East Hampshire District Council (19 002 019)

Statement Not upheld Drainage 04-Sep-2020

Summary: The Council did not fail to ensure a development was completed in accordance with planning conditions relating to flood prevention.

Trafford Council (19 020 089)

Statement Not upheld Drainage 24-Aug-2020

Summary: We have discontinued our investigation. The Council has resolved the issues Mrs B complains about, so there is no continued injustice which justifies an investigation.

Gloucestershire County Council (19 002 811)

Statement Upheld Drainage 28-Jul-2020

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to properly consider his reports about a blocked highway drainage gully. We found there was fault by the Council which warranted a remedy.

Essex County Council (19 007 327)

Statement Not upheld Drainage 30-Jun-2020

Summary: Mr L complains on behalf of a flood action group. They complain about the Council's inaction over flood risk to their village, particularly from the infrastructure of a major road. The Ombudsman does not have evidence of fault with the Council's decisions on flood prevention work. So we cannot question the merits of its decisions on those matters.

Kingston Upon Hull City Council (19 012 469)

Statement Upheld Drainage 22-Jun-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council was at fault in the way it investigated a water leak at her property and served a Building Act Notice. The Ombudsman finds the Council was not at fault in the way it investigated the leak and served the Notice. He does find the Council was at fault in the way it responded to Mrs X's formal complaints about the matter. The Council has already apologised to Mrs X and offered a payment in recognition for the distress caused. So, the Ombudsman has completed his investigation.