Havant Borough Council (25 009 087)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Commercial and contracts 25-Nov-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council ending his business tenancy. The Courts are best placed to deal with contractual matters.

Bristol City Council (25 010 617)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Commercial and contracts 25-Nov-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to require contractors to operate with either a Private Hire Vehicle or a Public Service Vehicle licence when providing school transport. This is because his complaint is late and I have found no good reason why he could not have come to us sooner.

London Borough of Barking & Dagenham (25 009 699)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Commercial and contracts 13-Nov-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council refusing to renew the building lease of a business she owned. This is because it is not in our jurisdiction to do so as the matter is being considered by the Courts.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (25 011 455)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Commercial and contracts 12-Nov-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s decision not to investigate her company’s complaint in relation to concerns it had with the Council whilst providing it a contractual service. This is because it would be reasonable for Mrs X to take the matter to the courts and there is no meaningful outcome we could achieve.

Westmorland and Furness Council (25 010 295)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Commercial and contracts 06-Nov-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s involvement with Mr X. This is because most parts of the complaint are late and therefore outside our jurisdiction. Additionally, of the parts that are not late, Mr X has an alternative legal remedy through the courts to resolve his dispute. And because only they can achieve the outcome he is looking for, it would be reasonable to expect him to use that remedy.

London Borough of Hillingdon (24 021 944)

Statement Upheld Commercial and contracts 23-Oct-2025

Summary: Miss X complained about the Council’s actions in relation to a business she runs in a Council-owned property. We have not investigated all aspects of her complaint, as it would be reasonable for her to pursue some matters through the courts. We find the Council at fault for poor communication, failure to act as promised, and poor complaint handling. This caused Miss X avoidable uncertainty, distress, and time and trouble. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment to Miss X, and take steps to improve its services.

London Borough of Brent (25 008 711)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Commercial and contracts 21-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about fees the Council pays a private fostering agency. Further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

West Northamptonshire Council (25 006 023)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Commercial and contracts 20-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the way the Council considered Mr X’s complaint. We do not consider it a good use of public resources to consider complaints about complaint handling when we are not investigating the substantive issue..

Worcestershire County Council (24 023 151)

Statement Not upheld Commercial and contracts 16-Oct-2025

Summary: Mr X complained of a contractual dispute between his care company and the Council. Mr X also complained the Council failed to safeguard, communicate and complete care reviews for service users. I have ended this investigation as the courts are best placed to consider contractual matters. The remaining part of the complaint has not caused Mr X a significant personal injustice.

Charnwood Borough Council (25 006 434)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Commercial and contracts 12-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council demolished a garage he rented in its area without notice. This is because the Council already apologised, refunded part of his rent, and paid him a £50 symbolic payment. An investigation is unlikely to achieve anything further, and the remaining injustice is not significant enough to warrant an investigation.