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 ...

Housing adaptations for people with disabilities This fact sheet is for people with disabilities (or someone caring for them) who are experiencing problems with adaptation to their home and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. I have a problem with adaptations to my home to make it suitable for me. Can the Ombudsman help me? In some cases, yes. By law the council may be respons ...

Child protection issues This fact sheet is for parents, carers, children and young people who have experienced problems with a child protection issue and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. I have a problem with a child protection matter. Can the Ombudsman help me? In many cases, yes. Where a child is thought to be at risk of significant harm, the council has a duty to make en ...

Publicising planning applications This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who believe that the council has failed to advise them of a planning application that may affect them and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. The council did not tell me about a planning application. Can the Ombudsman help me? Yes, in some circumstances. If you believe that the council failed to tel ...

Planning enforcement This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who believe the council should be taking enforcement action against a nearby development and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. I think there has been a breach of planning control near my property and the council has not taken enforcement action. Can the Ombudsman help me? Yes. We usually investigate complaints ...

Bus stops and shelters This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who have concerns about the council’s (or, in London, Transport for London's) actions in respect of local bus stops and shelters and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. I have a problem with decisions the council has made about our local bus stops and shelters. Can the Ombudsman help me? In a few cases, yes. T ...

Enforcement agents (bailiffs) This fact sheet is aimed primarily at anyone who is experiencing problems with a bailiff employed by a council or other enforcing authority and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. Enforcement agents are what were more commonly known as bailiffs. I have a complaint against an enforcement agent. Can the Ombudsman help me? In some cases, yes. If your ...

Infant class size appeals This fact sheet is aimed primarily at parents who have appealed for a place in reception, year 1 or year 2, and who may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. Please also read our fact sheet on complaints about school admissions. What is an 'infant class size' appeal? The law states that there must not be more than 30 children in an infant class (that is, cl ...

Neighbour nuisance and anti-social behaviour This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people having problems getting the council to deal with anti-social behaviour near their homes and who may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. My neighbours are causing me problems with anti-social behaviour, and the council doesn’t seem to be doing anything about it. Can the Ombudsman help me? In m ...

Business rates This fact sheet is aimed primarily at anyone who is experiencing problems with some aspect of their business rates account and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. I have a problem with my business rates. Can the Ombudsman help me? In some cases, yes. But there are some matters we are not allowed to look at by law: We cannot look at the level of business rates as ...