Woking Borough Council (24 004 402)

Statement Upheld Licensing 12-May-2025

Summary: Mr X complained the Council unfairly rejected his application to hold a circus on its land and poor complaint handling. We found the Council was at fault because it did not respond to his complaint or several enquiries by us. This caused Mr X avoidable distress, time and trouble. To remedy this injustice, the Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment to Mr X and take action to improve its service. We did not find fault with the Council’s decision to refuse his application because it was entitled to decide not to host any large events on its land. We found no evidence of an inconsistent or discriminatory approach to circuses, as claimed by Mr X.

Manchester City Council (24 022 020)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Licensing 12-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s actions between 2019 and 2023 in relation to his application for a street trader’s licence. The complaint lies outside our jurisdiction because it is late and there are no good reasons to exercise discretion to consider it now. Also, part of the complaint lies outside our jurisdiction because it has been considered in court.

Transport for London (24 021 164)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Licensing 11-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about how Transport for London dealt with his application to renew his private hire driver’s licence. This is because we could not say that the issues raised have caused Mr X an injustice.

London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham (24 019 983)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Licensing 28-Apr-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of noise nuisance and alleged licence breach at a pub near the complainant’s home. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council and an investigation would not achieve a different outcome.

Broadland District Council (24 015 776)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Licensing 01-Apr-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council's handling of a licensing variation application as Mr X is not caused a level of injustice, from any alleged Council fault, that would warrant our involvement.

London Borough of Lambeth (24 018 021)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Licensing 25-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions following her reports of concerns about the operation of a licensed premises. The complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. The complainant can ask the Council for a review of the premises license. If she is dissatisfied with the outcome of the review process she can appeal to the magistrates’ court against the Council’s decision.

London Borough of Bromley (24 004 058)

Statement Upheld Licensing 24-Mar-2025

Summary: Mrs J complained the Council has not taken effective action to ensure her landlord addresses disrepair in her home. The Council was at fault, because it cannot show it has made robust, evidence-based decisions, and has not escalated its action in response to the landlord’s failure to comply. The Council has agreed to formally apologise to Mrs J and offer her a financial remedy, as well as issuing guidance to relevant staff on the importance of keeping detailed records.

City of Doncaster Council (24 019 666)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Licensing 19-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about taxi licensing because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (24 017 586)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Licensing 13-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about taxi vehicle licensing because it is reasonable to expect Mr Y to appeal to the magistrates court about the issue, we could not add to the previous investigation about the issue and further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

City of Wolverhampton Council (24 009 496)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Licensing 12-Mar-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council's refusal to grant Mr X a private hire driver licence. Mr X appealed this decision to the court and this matter is therefore no longer within our legal remit.