Durham County Council (19 013 133)

Statement Not upheld Other 01-Dec-2020

Summary: Mr X complains the Council was at fault in the way it responded to his complaints of nuisance caused by a nearby pig farm. We have found no evidence of fault in the way the Council considered these matters so have completed our investigation.

London Borough of Lambeth (20 004 964)

Statement Not upheld Other 30-Nov-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman has stopped investigating Mr X's complaint that the Council failed to issue an abatement notice when he reported a statutory nuisance. This is because Mr X has already sought a remedy in court for the injustice caused.

Hyndburn Borough Council (19 010 539)

Statement Upheld Other 17-Nov-2020

Summary: Mr B complains about the Council's response to his reports of dog fouling in his neighbours' yard. The Ombudsman does not find fault with the way the Council investigated the reports or the way it reached its decision not to take action. There was some fault in the Councils complaint handling. The Council agrees actions to remedy the injustice to Mr B.

Sedgemoor District Council (19 020 010)

Statement Upheld Other 22-Oct-2020

Summary: Mr X complained the Council should not have removed his van as abandoned. He also complained about difficulty in contacting the Council. There was fault by the Council. The Council should make a payment to Mr X to reflect that this caused uncertainty about whether the removal of his van could have been avoided. The payment also recognises time and trouble Mr X was put to in making his complaint.

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council (19 015 506)

Statement Upheld Other 20-Oct-2020

Summary: Mrs X says the Council is at fault in how it has considered and investigated her reports of vermin entering her home from her neighbour's property. The Ombudsman has not found evidence of fault in how the Council responded to Mrs X's reports although he does consider it was inappropriate to visit Mrs X's home with her neighbour without prior agreement. He recommended the Council reiterates its apology to Mrs X for doing so. The Council agreed.

London Borough of Barking & Dagenham (19 020 855)

Statement Upheld Other 12-Oct-2020

Summary: The Council disposed of a vehicle owned by Miss B as it considered it had been abandoned. There was fault in the way the Council reached its decision. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a financial payment for the injustice caused.

Essex County Council (20 001 276)

Statement Not upheld Other 07-Oct-2020

Summary: Ms X complains the Council failed to act on her report of an intimidating dog in a property next to a public footpath. The Ombudsman discontinued its investigation into Ms X's complaint because there is insufficient injustice to her, and the Ombudsman cannot achieve the outcome she wants.

Birmingham City Council (19 013 796)

Statement Upheld Other 07-Oct-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman found fault by the Council on Mr R's complaint about it failing to take prompt effective action on his reports of rats from its ground floor property. It delayed dealing with his complaint and did not carry out officer recommendations following a site inspection. The agreed action remedies the avoidable injustice caused.

Scarborough Borough Council (19 013 664)

Statement Not upheld Other 07-Oct-2020

Summary: We have completed our investigation into Mr X's complaint. The Council was not at fault for refusing to let him pay a fixed penalty notice in instalments. The Council's actions were in line with its policies and procedures.

Maidstone Borough Council (19 005 686)

Statement Not upheld Other 21-Sep-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman considers there is no evidence of fault by the Council when it identified that Mrs X's car was abandoned.