Sheffield City Council (24 005 325)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 17-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s decision not to trim a tree near a property she owns, and how it communicated with her and dealt with her complaint. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s decision-making process to warrant us investigating. There is insufficient significant personal injustice caused to Mrs X by the matters complained of to justify an investigation. We do not investigate councils’ communications and complaint handling where we are not investigating the core issues which gave rise to the complaint.

High Peak Borough Council (25 001 099)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 16-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to prune a tree. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault causing injustice.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (24 021 762)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 04-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council failing to make reasonable adjustments to help the complainant resolve issues caused by a tall tree at a neighbouring property. There is insufficient evidence of fault in the way the Tree & Woodland department responded, and any concerns about the involvement of the Adult Social Care team are premature, as they have not been considered under the Council’s complaints procedure.

Stevenage Borough Council (25 000 569)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 28-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council will not cut back an overhanging tree as it is unlikely we will find fault by the Council. We will not investigate the complaint about damage as this is a matter for the courts.

Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council (25 000 874)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 27-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs C’s complaint about two Council trees next to her home. This is because it is reasonable for Mrs C to take the Council to court if needed about the damage to her property. An investigation solely into nuisance caused by leaf fall is not justified.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (25 001 139)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 22-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal of Mr X’s request to cut back protected trees. This is because it was reasonable to expect him to appeal to the Planning Inspector. And we will not separately investigate the associated complaints about delay and the quality of the Council’s customer service, as it would not be proportionate, when we are not investigating the main complaint.

Shropshire Council (25 002 672)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 19-May-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr B’s complaint about the Council’s refusal of his application to remove a protected tree. This is because Mr B has appealed to the Planning Inspector. We do not have the power to investigate Mr B’s complaint about the Planning Inspector’s handling of his appeal.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (23 021 359)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 14-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a tree because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

North Yorkshire Council (24 009 781)

Statement Upheld Trees 12-May-2025

Summary: We have found the Council at fault for not notifying Mrs X that it had confirmed Tree Preservation Orders within her property. This did not cause Mrs X an injustice as she was aware the Orders had been made and saw they had been confirmed online.

Malvern Hills District Council (24 021 071)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Trees 12-May-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s actions in relation to a tree preservation order. The law prevents us from investigating matters which a Court considered.