Taxi and private hire vehicle licensing This fact sheet is aimed at people who are concerned that the council is not taking appropriate action over issues relating to taxis and private hire vehicles and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. I am unhappy with the way the council has handled my concerns about taxi or private hire vehicle licensing. Can the Ombudsman help me? We ca ...

Nuisance from smells This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who have concerns that the council is not taking action about the nuisance from smells they are experiencing and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. Organisations the Ombudsman can look at We hold councils to account for services they pay other organisations, including private companies, to carry out on their be ...

Derelict properties This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who cannot get the council to take action about nearby derelict properties and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. There is a dangerous and unsightly derelict building nearby and the council has done nothing about it. Can the Ombudsman help me? Yes, in some circumstances. If you believe that the council did somet ...

Ombudsman investigation finds Brentwood gatekeeping homelessness applications A Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigation has found Brentwood council has been gatekeeping access to its homelessness services when people approach it for help. Following an investigation into a complaint, the Ombudsman has raised concerns with the way the council assessed homeless applications, includi ...

Council makes serious unsubstantiated allegations about asylum seeker during Ombudsman investigation Sandwell council refused to let a vulnerable mother have her representative present at an important meeting – and made serious and unsubstantiated allegations about both of them during an investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. The mother, who was claiming asylum, lived wi ...

Libraries This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who are unhappy with issues about the way the council is administering its library services and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. I think there is something wrong in the way the council is providing the library service in my area. Can the Ombudsman help me? Yes, in certain circumstances. Your local council is responsible ...

Monthly News April 2019 25 Apr 2019 Cornwall Council takes more than a decade to decide village green application 17 Apr 2019 London council and care home amend policies after giving confusing information about fees 11 Apr 2019 Homeless family left in damp and cockroach-infested properties by London council 11 Apr 2019 Council delays leave disabled woman in unsuitable temporary accommodation for ...

Homelessness applications This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who are, or may become, homeless and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. I am homeless or will become homeless soon and the council is not dealing with my application properly. Can the Ombudsman help me? Yes in some circumstances. We can consider your complaint if you have told a council you are homeless or ...

Your neighbour's planning application This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who have concerns about the council approving a neighbour’s planning application and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. I am unhappy about the council’s decision to grant planning permission to my neighbour. Can the Ombudsman help me? Yes, in some circumstances. The law doesn’t allow you to app ...

Access denied: Reducing the barriers for Disabled people when accessing council housing and homelessness services Contents: Chapter index for Access denied: Reducing the barriers for Disabled people when accessing council housing and homelessness services Updated: 24 June 2025 Access denied: Reducing the barriers for Disabled people when accessing council housing and homelessness services search ...