West Berkshire Council (24 008 747)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Pollution 31-Oct-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council investigated reports of smoke nuisance. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.

Darlington Borough Council (24 007 930)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Pollution 09-Oct-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s civic enforcement team’s involvement in 2021. The complaint is late, and there are no good reasons for the Ombudsman to investigate now.

London Borough of Merton (24 005 755)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Pollution 03-Sep-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about how the Council investigated his reports of odour and fumes from a business, decided not to enforce, explained its decisions and dealt with his complaint. Even if there has been Council fault in all matters complained of, there is insufficient significant personal injustice caused to Mr X by them to warrant us investigating. We do not investigate council complaint-handling when not investigating the core issues giving rise to the complaint.

North West Leicestershire District Council (24 003 963)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Pollution 12-Aug-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s response to Ms X’s reports of dust nuisance from a nearby quarry. This is because we are unlikely to find evidence of fault by the Council sufficient to warrant an investigation.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council (23 014 233)

Statement Not upheld Pollution 25-Jul-2024

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to follow the recommendations set out in the Ombudsman’s previous investigation. Mr X also complained the Council failed to act in response to the school next to his property installing new floodlights causing a light nuisance. We did not find fault with the Council.

London Borough of Brent (24 003 772)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Pollution 17-Jul-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council deciding not to action against her neighbours’ cigarette smoke drifting into her garden, and about the noise of their conversations. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s decision-making process about the smoke to warrant investigation. We also cannot achieve the outcome Mrs X seeks. Her complaint about noise is not a valid matter we can reinvestigate and we have not done so.

Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames (23 011 888)

Report Upheld Pollution 01-Jul-2024

Summary: Mr K complained the Council has failed to remove a fly-tipped mattress from a river running through a council-owned park. He says this has had an impact on wildlife in the river.

North Northamptonshire Council (23 013 542)

Statement Upheld Pollution 13-Jun-2024

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s delayed response to a breach of planning control at a development near his house and poor communication and complaints handling. The Council was at fault. Council departments did not liaise when Mr X first complained which was not in line with its enforcement policy and though we cannot show the outcome would have been different, Mr X is understandably disappointed and uncertain about what might have happened if the fault had not happened. The Council was also at fault for poor complaints handling which caused Mr X frustration, uncertainty and time and trouble. The Council will apologise, pay Mr X a symbolic payment and put in place service improvements.

Somerset Council (23 020 947)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Pollution 06-May-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s response to the concerns Mr X raised about the safety of its 5G telecommunications roll out and possible health implications for him and the general public. This is because there is no evidence to suggest fault by the Council has caused him injustice.

Rochford District Council (22 016 507)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Pollution 02-May-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint made by a parish council about the Council’s handling of a complaint about dust nuisance from a construction site. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. We cannot investigate complaints made by public bodies such as parish councils.