LGO Individual Decisions

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the complainant’s priority on the housing register. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision that a shed is permitted development. There is no evidence of fault in the way the Council made its decision.

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s failure to tell its enforcement agent that a parking fine had already been paid. This led to an unnecessary and distressing visit to his home by the enforcement agents. We have found fault because the Council did not tell the enforcement agent the debt had been paid and did not deal with his complaint properly. I have not investigated the conduct of the enforcement agent because this should be considered through its own complaint procedure first. To remedy Mr X’s distress, time and trouble, the Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment to him

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council wrongly issued a completion certificate for building work carried out by the previous owner of his property. This is because, in law, the Council does not take on liability for the substandard work and we cannot therefore hold the Council responsible for the issue.

Summary: Mr B complained the Council was biased against him when considering safeguarding concerns relating to his daughter. He also complained about its social worker’s conduct and failure to communicate with him as agreed, and a breach of his data rights. The Council agreed its social worker failed to communicate as agreed and apologised. This was enough to remedy the injustice this caused him. We found no fault on the other matters complained about, or we could not investigate as a court or other body had already considered the issues.

Summary: Miss X complains about the Council’s handling of her application for exemption of building regulations fees. Miss X also complains the Council failed to consider its duties under the Human Rights Act and Equality Act 2010. We found no fault by the Council and we have concluded our investigation.

Summary: We found the Council’s delay and poor communication in dealing with Mr X’s reports of breaches of planning control put him to avoidable time and trouble and caused frustration. To put matters right, having now made its enforcement decisions, the Council agreed to apologise to Mr X and pay him £250.

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaints about Torbay Council. A significant amount of time has passed since the events complained about which impacts on our ability to consider them now. Also, we are unlikely to be able to achieve the outcome Mrs X seeks.

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaints about Torbay Council. A significant amount of time has passed since the events complained about which impacts on our ability to consider them now. Also, we are unlikely to be able to achieve the outcome Mrs X seeks.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council completed safeguarding enquiries. That is because we could not add to the Council’s previous investigation.

Summary: The Ombudsman does not intend to investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to grant planning permission for a development on the coast. Both the planning officer and committee considered the relevant legislation and the objections received and decided to approve the application. Without evidence of fault, this is a decision the Council is entitled to make.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council failing to involve Ms X in the decision making following her daughter being hospitalised. This is because there is insufficient fault to justify an investigation.

Summary: Mrs D says the Council failed to tell her about a land sale resulting in her losing full access to a right of way. The Ombudsman has discontinued the investigation because he cannot achieve the outcomes sought by Mrs D.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about problems the complainant had in getting a business rates refund. This is because the Council has provided a satisfactory response and there is not enough remaining injustice to require an investigation.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a Fixed Penalty Notice for fly-tipping. This is because the complainant could have raised a defence in court.

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s decision not to provide a discretionary housing payment to help pay off his rent arrears. He also complains about how the Council has dealt with his homelessness case and its decision to suspend his Devon Home Choice account so he cannot bid on properties. We find fault with the Council for delay in providing Mr X with support and for failing to take reasonable steps to help Mr X secure accommodation. We have made some recommendations to remedy the injustice caused.

Summary: Mr X complained about the support provided by the Council to his family. The Council has already investigated Mr X’s complaints through the statutory children’s complaints procedure and found there was fault in some of the ways it interacted with the family causing them injustice. There was no fault in the way the Council investigated Mr X’s complaints, or in the recommendations it made as a result to prevent a reoccurrence of those faults or the way these recommendations were actioned to remedy injustice.

Summary: Mr C complained the Council did not respond correctly to his notice of intent to carry out works to trees in a Conservation Area. He said because of this he lost work and experienced distress. We found no fault with the Council.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the way the Council processed the complainant’s council tax. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Summary: Ms X complains about the Council handling since it placed two grandchildren (Child Y and Child Z) in her care. The Council was at fault for delays in providing support to Child Y, responding to Ms X’s complaints and completing recommendations made during the children’s statutory complaints process. The Council has agreed to apologise, make payments (to Ms X and Child Y) and work with Ms X to remedy the injustice caused. It will also review the payments made to Ms X and other Special Guardians and provide guidance to staff.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to carry out a site visit which the complainant paid for. The Council has offered to refund the cost of the site visit plus £50 in acknowledgement of the error. I consider this a reasonable remedy to the complaint. And it is unlikely that further investigation will lead to a different outcome.

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s failure to control a development near his home that affects his privacy. We ended our investigation because planning enforcement action is ongoing, and we cannot know what the development will be like when the process does finish. Because of this, we cannot determine whether any alleged fault causes a significant injustice to Mr X.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to remove a fallen tree and maintain land next to the complainant’s home. The Council has apologised and agreed to carry out the work. Further investigation will not lead to a different outcome.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s involvement with the complainants family. This is because it is unlikely we could add to the investigation already carried out by the Council.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions regarding Mr X’s family. This is because the Council has corrected the inaccurate information and apologised. This is an appropriate remedy for any injustice caused. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council incorrectly sharing information with him because he can submit a complaint to the Information Commissioner about any alleged data breach. We cannot investigate Mr X’s concerns about police actions and recordings as we cannot investigate complaints about the actions of police.