Northumberland County Council (25 007 330)
Category : Planning > Planning applications
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 14 Oct 2025
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about how the Council handled an application to install a telecoms pole. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault.
The complaint
- Ms X complains the Council approved the installation of a telecoms pole in a conservation area despite rejecting a similar application nearby. She would like the pole relocated.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B)).
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Ms X complains the installation of a telecoms mast outside her home was approved but an application for a similar mast nearby was rejected. She lives in a conservation area and says the Council are being inconsistent.
- The Council say the mast outside Ms X’s property is more practical due to the wider street scene, and because the pole will blend with existing structures as far as possible. The Council considered this to be within permitted development.
- The Ombudsman is not an appeal body. We look at the process a CFouncil followed to make its decision. If the Council followed its process correctly, we cannot question that decision even if a complainant disagrees with the decision made. I see no evidence of fault in how the Council reached its decision to approve the telecoms pole installation.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman