London Borough of Havering (19 005 325)

Statement Upheld Other 15-Feb-2021

Summary: Mr X complained about how the Council responded to his reports of rats and drainage problems that affected his property. We have agreed with the Council's previous assessment that there was some fault because it failed to carry out an inspection on one occasion and did not respond to some of Mr X's complaints properly. To remedy the distress caused by these faults, the Council has already apologised and offered a payment to Mr X. We consider this to be a suitable outcome to remedy the injustice caused to Mr X.

Cheshire East Council (19 018 015)

Statement Not upheld Other 10-Feb-2021

Summary: We found the Council was not at fault in deciding Mr X's vehicle was abandoned and removing it from the public highway.

East Lindsey District Council (19 016 614)

Statement Not upheld Other 28-Jan-2021

Summary: Miss X says the Council has failed to act on her reports of odour and flies from a maggot farm near her home. We did not find any evidence of fault by the Council and therefore we have ended our consideration of this complaint.

Wolverhampton City Council (19 020 147)

Statement Upheld Other 20-Jan-2021

Summary: Mr and Mrs D complain the Council has failed to stop a rat infestation. The Ombudsman has found evidence of fault by the Council because it has failed to show how it investigated the case. He has uphold the complaint and completed the investigation because the Council agrees with the recommended actions.

Burnley Borough Council (20 001 186)

Statement Upheld Other 05-Jan-2021

Summary: Mr X complained the Council has failed to take appropriate action to deal with issues relating to abandoned vehicles and the state of his neighbour's property. There was no fault in the Council's investigations into the issues Mr X complained about. The Council has already accepted it was at fault when it did not keep Mr X up to date at times and apologised for this. This is sufficient to remedy any injustice this caused Mr X.

East Northamptonshire Council (19 019 070)

Statement Not upheld Other 15-Dec-2020

Summary: the complainants say the Council failed to use their statutory powers to stop water leaking from their neighbours' home from entering their home. The Council says it considered the repair to the blocked sewer stopped the leak and therefore did not need to consider exercising its powers further. The Ombudsman finds the Council acted without fault.

Southampton City Council (19 013 844)

Statement Upheld Other 10-Dec-2020

Summary: Mr X complains the Council has failed to take appropriate or timely enforcement action in relation to breaches of planning control and noise nuisance from a site opposite his home. The Council's failure to properly investigate Mr X's concerns about noise nuisance and unauthorised use of the site amounts to fault. This fault has caused Mr X an injustice.

Plymouth City Council (20 003 840)

Statement Upheld Other 08-Dec-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council for not completing maintenance on a verge subject to a Section 38 agreement. The Ombudsman also finds fault with the Council for not providing clear information about its responsibility for the area. Mr A has had to spend unnecessary time and trouble pursing this. The Council has agreed to carry out the actions identified in its stage two response, apologise to Mr A, and make a payment to him for his time and trouble.

Brighton & Hove City Council (20 000 974)

Statement Upheld Other 07-Dec-2020

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council's decision not to issue a community protection notice (CPN) against the owner of a dog who Mr X says has attacked his dog, and him, several times. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council as it applied the wrong thresholds when considering whether to issue a CPN. We have made recommendations.

Essex County Council (19 016 789)

Statement Upheld Other 04-Dec-2020

Summary: The Council failed to engage adequately with local people about emerging flood management works that Mr X says will cause disruption and a loss of green space near his home. The lack of early public engagement is unlikely to have affected the Council's flood management decision. However, the Council agreed to apologise to Mr X for denying him an early opportunity to comment on the emerging proposals. The Council also agreed to review its approach to early public engagement for flood management works.