Service improvements

Cornwall Council

Showing service improvements between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2027

Find out more about service improvements

When we find fault, we can recommend improvements to systems and processes where they haven’t worked properly, so that others do not suffer from these same problems in future. Common examples are policy changes; procedural reviews; and staff training. Service improvements from decisions are published for 5 years and those from reports are published for 10 years.

Showing 1 - 5 of 5 cases with service improvements

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Downloads the current filtered list of service improvement decisions for Cornwall Council as a CSV file.

  • Cornwall Council (23 003 073)

    Category: Planning Date: 01-Nov-2024

    Summary

    X complained the Council failed to protect their amenity from the unlawful use of land near their home. X said the use caused significant disturbance, upset and stress. We found fault because there was delay in beginning enforcement action and informing other Council departments. The Council has agreed to pay X a financial sum and make improvements to its policy and practice that might help avoid the fault happening again.

    Service improvements

    The Council was at fault for delay in beginning planning enforcement action and referring nuisance issues to environmental health officers. To reduce the chances of the fault happening again the Council agreed to review its service provision, practices and policy. It will review the adequacy of its enforcement policy and consider setting clear expectations and guidance to inform the public and its officers on how it will prioritise individual cases.

  • Cornwall Council (22 017 751)

    Category: Planning Date: 17-Oct-2023

    Summary

    Mr F complained about how the Council dealt with his report of a breach of planning control by his neighbour and the outcome of its investigation. We found the Council at fault for causing an unnecessary delay to investigate the breach. However, there was no fault in the process it followed to reach its view. It therefore made a decision it was entitled to make. The Council should apologise to Mr F and make payment to remedy the distress and uncertainty he experienced as a result of its delays.

    Service improvements

    The Council will review how it ensures it can meet the approximate timescales set out in its Enforcement Policy and Flowchart for uncomplicated cases, including how it informs complainants about delays which may occur to limit their expectations.

  • Cornwall Council (22 015 647)

    Category: Planning Date: 25-Jul-2023

    Summary

    Ms X complained the Council failed to act against builders who blocked a visibility splay outlined in the planning conditions for the site. We found fault with the Council making typographical errors in the planning condition preventing effective enforcement action. The Council agreed apologise to Ms X and provide training to staff.

    Service improvements

    Provide training to staff about the importance of ensuring planning conditions are accurate and specific. The Council should highlight the potential implications of errors in planning conditions on the planning enforcement team and the public

  • Cornwall Council (22 014 987)

    Category: Planning Date: 18-Dec-2023

    Summary

    Mr X complains about planning processes, planning decisions and an enforcement decision made by the Council. We have concluded our investigation having made a finding of fault. We found that an issue with the Council’s internal mapping service led to Mr X not being notified about a planning application, and that the matter has not yet been unresolved. We have not seen evidence of further fault regarding planning processes, planning decisions and enforcement decisions made by the Council. The Council have agreed to our recommendations.

    Service improvements

    Explain what it will do to resolve the matter that is preventing Mr X being notified about planning applications. I understand this to be updating its internal mapping service.

  • Cornwall Council (22 007 941)

    Category: Planning Date: 23-May-2023

    Summary

    Ms X complained the Council disregarded her objections about the disruption a nearby development would cause and did not consider the planning application properly. She also says the Council missed opportunities to mitigate the impact of construction noise. We have not found the Council at fault for how it considered the planning application. We have found the Council at fault for how it carried out its noise nuisance investigation. We have made recommendations to remedy the injustice this caused. We have found the Council at fault for not opening a planning enforcement investigation sooner, but this did not cause Ms X an injustice.

    Service improvements

    The Council will remind officers conducting planning enforcement and noise nuisance investigations of the principles set out in the Ombudsman's Principles of Good Administrative Practice.

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