Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council (24 019 468)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 26-Aug-2025

Summary: X complained that planning decisions made by the Council more than three decades ago are evidence that shows bias in favour of their neighbour. We will not investigate this complaint further, because the matters complained about occurred long before our 12-month time limit on investigations. There is no evidence that persuades us to use our discretion to go back beyond this limit.

Lancaster City Council (25 004 315)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Planning applications 26-Aug-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a planning application for a development in the area where the complainant lives. This is because we are unlikely to find fault.

Isle of Wight Council (25 004 683)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 26-Aug-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the way the Council considered a planning application. There is not enough evidence of fault in the process the Council followed before deciding to grant planning permission. Also, we cannot achieve the outcome Mrs X is seeking, and we do not consider a failure in the complaint process alone causes a significant personal injustice which warrants an investigation.

Maidstone Borough Council (25 004 761)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 26-Aug-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the decision to grant planning permission for a new development near the complainant’s home. This decision was made by the Planning Inspectorate, which is not a body within our jurisdiction.

Isle of Wight Council (25 004 818)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Planning applications 26-Aug-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the way the Council considered a planning application. There is not enough evidence of fault in the process the Council followed before deciding to grant planning permission. Also, we cannot achieve the outcome Mr X is seeking, and we do not consider a failure in the complaint process alone causes a significant personal injustice which warrants an investigation.

Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council (24 019 985)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Building control 25-Aug-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a building control matter. This is because it is unlikely we could achieve a worthwhile outcome for the complainant.

East Cambridgeshire District Council (24 012 397)

Statement Not upheld Building control 21-Aug-2025

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to take enforcement action against a developer after installing defective drainage at his home, and failed to pursue the developer for making false representations. He also said the Council signed off the drainage without completing proper checks. We found no fault in the Council’s decision-making processes.

Cotswold District Council (24 016 177)

Statement Upheld Enforcement 21-Aug-2025

Summary: Mr C complained about the Council’s handling of his planning and environmental control concerns regarding a neighbouring business, including anti-social behaviour. We found no fault in the process the Council followed to reach its views, and it did not cause unnecessary delays as the matters were progressed. Mr C did experience distress, and his residential amenity was impacted, but this was therefore not due to fault by the Council. However, there was some fault in its delayed complaints handling. The Council should apologise to acknowledge the uncertainty this caused Mr C.

London Borough of Barnet (24 003 753)

Statement Upheld Planning applications 20-Aug-2025

Summary: Mr F complained the Council failed to properly consider a planning application for development next to his home. We found no fault in the way the Council determined the planning application or carried out its enforcement investigation. There was fault in complaint handling which caused Mr F some time and trouble. The Council has agreed to apologise for this.

Cumberland Council (25 002 955)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 20-Aug-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to act on reports of damage to a listed building and a failure to respond to the complaint. There is not enough evidence of personal injustice to justify an investigation. Also, we consider an investigation will not lead to a different outcome.