Shropshire Council (24 014 478)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 07-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council damaging her garden waste bin and refusing to replace it free of charge. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council and any injustice is not significant enough to warrant an investigation.

Gloucester City Council (25 006 966)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 07-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to remove domestic bins from Ms X’s local area. This is because an investigation would be unlikely to find fault with the Council’s actions.

Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council (25 007 039)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 07-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about a partially missed refuse collection. This is because the matter has not caused Ms X any significant personal injustice which is serious enough to warrant an investigation.

London Borough of Hillingdon (25 008 113)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 07-Oct-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to introduce an annual fee for collecting garden waste. This is because it is a decision taken by the Council that affects all or most of the people in the Council’s area.

Gedling Borough Council (25 010 052)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 07-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint that the Council failed to collect her garden waste on one occasion in July 2025. The claimed injustice is not significant enough to warrant an investigation.

Milton Keynes Council (25 013 957)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 07-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr B’s complaint about the Council emptying a bin he had not put out for collection. This is because Mr B has not suffered a serious or significant injustice which would justify our involvement.

London Borough of Barnet (24 014 978)

Statement Not upheld Refuse and recycling 06-Oct-2025

Summary: Mr X complained the Council acted disproportionately when it issued him with a fixed penalty notice (FPN) for fly-tipping. We have not found the Council at fault for the procedure it followed when issuing the FPN to Mr X. We cannot therefore question the Council’s decision.

Essex County Council (25 008 038)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 06-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that Council staff were responsible for damage to his vehicle. This is because insurers and the courts are better placed to consider the matter. Any injustice caused by the actions of staff is not significant enough to justify our further involvement.

Brighton & Hove City Council (24 017 916)

Statement Upheld Refuse and recycling 02-Oct-2025

Summary: Ms X complained the Council wrongly issued her with a Fixed Penalty Notice regarding commercial waste when she does not run a business. Ms X says this has cost her financially, through payment of the penalty and loss of income. She said this also caused her distress. There was fault in the way the Council did not explain its position, did not allow Ms X to explain her position and the complaint handling was poor. This frustrated Ms X and she was put to time and trouble to complain. The Council agreed to refund the penalty notice as it offered, make a financial payment, provide guidance to its staff and review its policy.

London Borough of Barnet (24 022 083)

Statement Upheld Refuse and recycling 02-Oct-2025

Summary: Mr D says the Council failed to rectify pavement obstructions near a zebra crossing which causes issue for pedestrians who are visually impaired. I have found the Council at fault. The Council agrees to apologise to Mr D and will offer to meet him to discuss its actions in the case.