LGO Individual Decisions

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about its support when she raised concerns about the sale of land to a third party. Part of the complaint is late and there are no good reasons to decide to investigate the earlier period now. In relation to the period we have considered, there is insufficient evidence of fault causing sufficient injustice to justify our involvement.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council did not notify the complainant of an extra council tax charge for a second home. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about how the Council handled business license applications. Parts of her complaint are late and there are no good reasons why it could not have been made sooner. And of the parts remaining, there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Summary: We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint about a planning decision of the Council. This is because the issue has been considered in Court proceedings, and the law does not allow us to investigate this complaint.

We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about Council Tax and Non-domestic rates liability. This is because parts of the complaint has been considered in Court proceedings and the law does not allow us to investigate in these circumstances. And parts of the complaint about billing faults are late and there are no good reasons why they could not have been made sooner.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the way the Council responded to the complainant’s request for a reasonable adjustment regarding use of a swimming pool. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s lack of enforcement action against breaches of planning and listed building control. We have not seen sufficient evidence of fault in the Council’s actions. And further investigation is unlikely to lead to a different outcome.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the way the Council considered a planning application. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s actions. Also we cannot achieve the outcome sought.

Summary: Miss X complained the Council and its contractor did not act on her report and resulting complaints about a contractor breaking a window at her home. We found fault by the Council because it did not keep sufficient oversight of this matter or reply to Miss X’s complaints. The Council has agreed to apologise to Miss X, make a symbolic payment and resolve the matter.

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council persistently failed to collect his bin. We are satisfied with the actions the Council has taken or intends to take. Mr X’s other complaints are new and the Council should be given the opportunity to investigate and reply.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to comply with pre-application protocols. We cannot require the Council to pay the complainant’s legal fees, therefore we cannot achieve the outcome sought.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the grant of planning permission as there is no evidence of fault by the Council.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about an alleged breach of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. The complaint is late and there is no reason to investigate after more than three years. Also, the complainant has the right to appeal to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council introducing parking restrictions by way of a traffic order for an area which is does not own as part of the highway. We cannot determine points of law about the interpretation of legislation. The courts are the body which determines these matters. We will not exercise discretion to consider the traffic order process which took place more than 12 months ago. There is no evidence to suggest that Mr X could not have complained to us sooner.

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council taking recovery action in the courts for unpaid council tax. We cannot investigate complaints about matters which have been subject to court proceedings.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to prepare a beach hut for use and its subsequent decision to give a partial refund. We consider the Council’s apology and partial refund to be a suitable remedy to this complaint.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a housing benefit overpayment. This is because it is a matter for the tribunal.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s description of a planning application on its planning database. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. There are insufficient reasons to exercise discretion to consider this late complaint now, and the alleged fault did not cause the complainants a significant injustice with regard to the planning outcome.

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s process for replacing a corroded handrail, its current inspection and maintenance system, or its communications and complaint-handling. None of the issues relating to the handrail and the Council’s maintenance scheme cause Mr X a significant personal injustice warranting investigation. We do not investigate council complaint‑handling and correspondence where we are not investigating the core issue giving rise to the complaint.

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of her neighbour’s planning application. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council affecting its decision.

Summary: Ms X complains the Council has not given due regard to its duty under the Equality Act to ensure her local leisure centre is autism friendly. Ms X complains this means her and other people with autism have been excluded from services. The Ombudsman does not find fault with the Council for how it considered its duty under the Equality Act. The Ombudsman does find fault with the Council for how it handled Ms X’s complaint. The Council has agreed to pay a financial remedy and implement a service remedy.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council’s Deputy Monitoring Officer dealt with a complaint about the conduct of a local councillor. This is because we are unlikely to find fault.

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to take suitable enforcement action over a building control issue affecting the integrity of the building next to hers. Ms X complained the Council’s actions caused an increase in the cost of her renovation works and caused her to incur extra costs for scaffolding the Council requested she kept in place. We considered the Council is not responsible for Ms X’s increased costs to her renovation works and the courts is a more suitable means to seek compensation. We did find fault with the Council’s actions about Ms X keeping the scaffolding and for dela

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to investigate a complaint that town councillors breached the code of conduct. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. We are unlikely to find fault in the way the Council considered the complaint. Nor can we achieve the outcome the complainant is seeking.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council not waiving an additional council tax charge. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.