High Peak Borough Council (23 010 819)

Statement Upheld Council tax 11-Apr-2024

Summary: Miss N, complains the Council did not respond to her application for an exemption to her council tax, so leading to the avoidable distress of a bailiff’s visit. When it did respond, it did not advise her of her right to appeal the Council’s new decision. Our decision is there was fault by the Council. The Council has agreed to our recommendations.

High Peak Borough Council (23 014 571)

Statement Upheld Private housing 24-Jul-2024

Summary: Mr X complains the Council has delayed serving an improvement notice about his home and not dealt with enforcement properly regarding his landlord. The Council is at fault because it delayed dealing with problems Mr X reported about the condition of his home. Mr X had to live in substandard accommodation for too long and has been evicted earlier than he should have been. The Council should apologise and pay Mr X £400 for distress and uncertainty.

High Peak Borough Council (23 003 847)

Statement Upheld Enforcement 24-Jul-2024

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council’s response when she reported breaches of planning permission on a development site near her home. She also complained that the Council failed to follow due process when granting planning permission to increase the number of houses on the site. We found the Council was at fault in failing to update Mrs X and in failing to show it considered case law she referred to. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mrs X. We did not uphold the remainder of Mrs X’s complaint.

High Peak Borough Council (24 002 008)

Statement Upheld Council tax 27-Jan-2025

Summary: We found fault on Mrs S’s complaint made on behalf of her son, about the Council failing to communicate with her about his council tax when aware he was a vulnerable adult. This caused stress as it issued a summons. It failed to act under its recovery policy or on his request. The agreed action remedies the injustice caused.

High Peak Borough Council (24 010 022)

Statement Upheld Antisocial behaviour 24-Feb-2025

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to effectively deal with allegations of statutory nuisance at a neighbouring property. Mr X said this has caused him real stress and has affected his health. We find the Council at fault for delays in its investigation and for poor communication. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mr X, make a payment to recognise the injustice caused and write to him setting out the next steps.