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 ...

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 ...

Special educational needs This fact sheet is aimed mainly at parents who are concerned that their child may have special educational needs that are not being met and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. What is the Ombudsman's role in complaints about special educational needs? The law generally prevents us from investigating complaints where the decision or issue complained ab ...

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 ...

Enforcement of road charging schemes (such as Transport for London’s Congestion Charge and Low Emission Zones) This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who are unhappy with the way Transport for London (TfL) is dealing with a congestion charge or Low Emission Zone related issue and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. It also applies to some other schemes such as the Durham ...