London Borough of Enfield (24 013 242)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Commercial and contracts 07-Nov-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council pursuing him for repayment of a COVID-19 business grant. This is because the complaint is late and the Council has passed the case to a government department which has made its own decision to take action against Mr X. We have no jurisdiction over the department and cannot say the Council must accept he is eligible for the grant. We cannot therefore achieve the outcome Mr X wants.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner (24 008 917)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Commercial and contracts 21-Oct-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about the decisions of the Police and Crime Commissioner relating to the disposal of residential properties. This is because those decisions affect all or most of the people who live in the Authority’s area. In any case, we would not investigate because there is no evidence the Authority’s actions have caused Mr X a significant injustice.

North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council (24 005 646)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Commercial and contracts 15-Sep-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the presence of asbestos and damage to a business premises that the complainant leases from the Council. This is because the issues raised are better considered by the courts.

London Borough of Croydon (23 019 545)

Statement Upheld Commercial and contracts 20-Aug-2024

Summary: Mr B complained that the Council had failed to take effective action to stop a resident blocking access to his garage. It had also failed to respond to his communications about the problems or refund the garage rent despite promising to do so. We have found fault in the Council’s actions causing Mr B an injustice. The Council has taken action to stop the anti-social behaviour, to refund the past rent to Mr B and freeze ongoing payments. It has also agreed to apologise to him, make a symbolic payment of £300 and improve its record-keeping for the future

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (24 005 006)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Commercial and contracts 19-Aug-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council set annual rent for a carpark. There is not enough evidence of fault in how the Council made its decision to justify our involvement.

Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council (24 004 900)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Commercial and contracts 14-Aug-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s increase of its licence fee for renting space at a business centre. This is because the issue is not subject to investigation under the Local Government Act 1974. It is in any event a dispute over whether the Council’s actions breach the licence agreement, which is a matter for the courts.

Eastbourne Borough Council (24 003 330)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Commercial and contracts 11-Aug-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of Ms X’s garage rent arrears. This is because we are unlikely to find evidence of fault by the Council sufficient to warrant an investigation.

Blackpool Borough Council (24 004 456)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Commercial and contracts 08-Aug-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to contact the complainant at their correspondence address. We cannot achieve the £25,000 financial compensation the complainant is seeking. Such compensation claims are matters for the courts.

East Suffolk Council (24 002 910)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Commercial and contracts 07-Aug-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the way the Council consulted on possible changes to the tenure arrangements at a caravan site. There is not evidence of fault by the Council causing the complainant a significant injustice.

Liverpool City Council (24 003 189)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Commercial and contracts 21-Jul-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint non-payment of the complainant’s invoices to the Council in relation to care services. This is because the Council disputes the amount is owed to the complainant. The parties appear to be in legal dispute and we consider the complainant could reasonably take the matter to court. The law says we cannot investigate in these circumstances.