Guildford Borough Council (25 004 140)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Drainage 30-Sep-2025

Summary: We will not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint about the responsibility for cables in a culvert next to Mr X’s property. This complaint was received outside the normal 12-month period for investigating complaints. There is no evidence to suggest that Mr X could not have complained to us sooner.

Hertfordshire County Council (25 006 888)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Drainage 24-Sep-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s delay in completing an investigation report in relation to a flooding incident in her home. This is because the matter Ms X complains of is more 12 months old. There are no good reasons why she did not complain sooner.

Melton Borough Council (24 014 751)

Statement Upheld Drainage 21-Sep-2025

Summary: There was no fault in the Council’s decisions or actions around preventing Mrs X’s garden flooding. However, the Council was at fault for not updating Mrs X as it said it would. We are satisfied the Council has remedied the injustice caused by this.

Leicester City Council (25 004 830)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Drainage 21-Sep-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal to clear blocked drains at a private property. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (25 008 684)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Drainage 11-Sep-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s management of the flood risk to Mr X’s property. This is because there are other bodies better placed to consider Mr X’s complaint, and it is reasonable to expect him to take the Council to court to seek damages.

Buckinghamshire Council (24 023 032)

Statement Not upheld Drainage 07-Sep-2025

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to re-evaluate the flow rates for the Sustainable Urban Drainage Scheme at a new housing development increasing flooding in the village where he lives. We have discontinued the investigation. This is because we cannot achieve the outcome Mr X is seeking.

Wiltshire Council (24 019 086)

Statement Upheld Drainage 25-Aug-2025

Summary: There was fault in the Council’s refusal to accept the recommendation of its own complaint investigator, to offer the complainant a payment to reflect the inconvenience he had experienced, because of the Council’s mishandling of his application for a flood recovery grant. The Council has now agreed to make this payment.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (24 017 111)

Statement Not upheld Drainage 19-Aug-2025

Summary: Mrs B complained that the Council has not taken enforcement action when a neighbouring landowner failed to do work to alleviate flood risk to Mrs B’s property. The Council investigated the issue and paid for contractors to find the solution. It then properly considered whether to take enforcement action against the landowner who did not complete the work needed. There was no faut by the Council when it decided not to take further enforcement action.

Shropshire Council (24 012 132)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Drainage 11-Aug-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about drainage because we could not add to any previous investigation by the organisation and further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

Halton Borough Council (24 011 513)

Statement Upheld Drainage 04-Aug-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to carry out drainage works on land near her property and failed to provide updates. The Council has started further drainage works but these have taken longer than the 14 days indicated and are still not complete causing frustrating as Mrs X’s garden is subject to regular flooding making it unusable. There is fault in the Council failing to communicate with Mrs X and provide regular updates as well as failing to provide information about how to make an insurance claim. A remedy including a symbolic payment is agreed.