Case Ref: 23 006 862 Category: Environment and regulation Sub Category: Trees

• The Council was at fault because it used its enforcement powers against trees that were not protected by tree preservation orders. While the Council has already apologised to the complainant, it has agreed to carry out a service review. It agreed to carry out a review of its practice and procedure to find any changes necessary to avoid the fault happening again, and provide the Ombudsman with evidence to show it has implemented any review findings.

Case Ref: 22 015 835 Category: Benefits and tax Sub Category: Other

• The Council has agreed to remind staff where fault is found causing injustice, the Council should be considering the Ombudsman guidance on remedies when calculating personal remedies.

Case Ref: 22 001 172 Category: Environment and regulation Sub Category: Refuse and recycling

• The Council will remind relevant staff when a missed bin is reported it should return to collect the waste within 48 hours in line with its waste collection policy.

Case Ref: 21 002 124 Category: Environment and regulation Sub Category: Antisocial behaviour

• Provide guidance to staff to ensure that the Council considers and documents the rationale for the use or otherwise of anti-social behaviour powers available to it during investigations.

Case Ref: 20 013 579 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Disabled facilities grants

• Remind staff to ensure all final complaint letters signpost people to the Ombudsman.

Case Ref: 20 005 823 Category: Planning Sub Category: Planning applications

• The Council agreed, Covid-19 restrictions notwithstanding, to review why it took so long to deal with this complaint, and why it failed to provide updates about progress, so this is not repeated in the future.

Case Ref: 19 017 155 Category: Housing Sub Category: Allocations

• Council will review its housing allocations policy to ensure the health and welfare assessment process is sufficiently clear.
• the Council will share a copy of this decision with relevant staff members.

Case Ref: 19 010 078 Category: Environment and regulation Sub Category: Antisocial behaviour

• The Council has agreed to remind relevant officers they should consider their powers under the HHSRS when investigating complaints of this type.
• The Council has agreed to remind relevant officers of the importance of keeping clear notes when investigating complaints of nuisance and/or anti-social behaviour.

Case Ref: 19 005 783 Category: Planning Sub Category: Enforcement

• The Council will confirm the steps it has taken to ensure that officers do not prematurely send letters threatening legal action.

Case Ref: 19 005 621 Category: Planning Sub Category: Planning applications

• The Council will remind enforcement officers of the importance of investigating breaches of conditions properly.