LGO Individual Decisions

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of the complainant’s council tax account. This is because it is reasonable to expect the complainant to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Councils’ leisure services provider taking direct debits from the complainant’s bank account without telling her the service provider had changed, and for its pursuit of her for missed payments. The complainant had her payments refunded under the direct debit guarantee and the Council has agreed not to pursue for the missed membership payments. It is unlikely further investigation will lead to a different outcome.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of matters relating to a TPO for a tree in Ms X’s neighbour’s garden. This is because an investigation is unlikely to add significantly to that already carried out by the Council or lead to a different outcome.

Summary: Ms Y complains about the Council’s failure to provide adequate support when she was a looked after child. She also says the Council did not do enough to help her secure indefinite leave to remain in the UK. We find the Council has already undertaken a thorough and independent investigation of Ms Y’s complaint and has provided an appropriate remedy for the injustice caused by fault. We do not make any further recommendations.

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision not to extend parking restrictions to deal with inconsiderate parking. This is because the matter does not cause Mr X significant personal injustice and it is unlikely investigation would lead to any worthwhile outcome.

Summary: We will not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint about Miss X’s request for council tax to be backdated from 2019 to 2020. This complaint was received outside the normal 12-month period for investigating complaints. There is no evidence to suggest that Miss X could not have complained to us sooner.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of the complainant’s council tax account. This is because it is reasonable to expect the complainant to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council’s failure to take planning enforcement to reduce the height of a boundary wall built by her neighbour which overshadows her garden. There was no fault in the way the Council made its decision not to take enforcement action.

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s failure to take planning and building control enforcement action in relation to his neighbour’s development. We completed our investigation as there was no fault in the way the Council made its decisions.

Summary: There was no fault in the Council’s actions following Mr X’s report of concerns about his children’s welfare.

Summary: Miss X complained about the way the Council dealt with her application and appeal for a Blue Badge for her son who is autistic. Since she made her complaint, the Council has carried out a further face-to-face mobility assessment and come to the same decision as before. Any investigation of previous events is unlikely to achieve any meaningful outcome for Miss X. We have therefore stopped investigating the complaint. If Miss X considers there were flaws in the latest assessment she may make a further complaint to the Council.

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s decision that her latest planning application in 2020 did not qualify as a free application, and how it dealt with her complaint. The complaint is late and there is no good reason for us to exercise discretion to investigate it now. We do not investigate councils’ complaint-handling where we are not investigating the core issues giving rise to the complaint.

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council has not properly processed her application for the renewal of a blue badge. We have found some fault with the Council’s policy, but this did not cause Mrs X personal injustice. The Council has agreed to take action to prevent recurrence of the fault.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to pursue planning enforcement at a development site. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the complainant’s housing benefit is constantly changing even though his income does not change. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council and because the complainant could have used his review and appeal rights.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a Fixed Penalty Notice the Council issued, and subsequent court proceedings against Mr X for littering. Mr X used his right of appeal to court, and Mr X’s concerns about the unclear status of his case are best directed to the Courts and Tribunals Service Centre.

Summary: The Council failed to properly consider Mr X’s care and accommodation needs from July 2021 onwards.

Summary: Ms X complained about the Council’s handling of her homelessness application and delays in addressing repair issues in the interim accommodation it provided, which caused her anxiety. The Council has accepted some delay and communication failings, and has made an offer to remedy the injustice caused, which Ms X has accepted. We have discontinued our investigation on the basis that there is nothing worthwhile we could achieve by investigating further.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a comment a Council officer made while responding to a report of a leak. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council and insufficient evidence of injustice. In addition, we could not achieve the outcome the complainant wants.

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to act in her husband, Mr Y’s, best interest when it obtained a deprivation of liberty authorisation to keep him at the Care Home which had previously found to have been providing him with poor care. There was no fault in how the Council made decisions about Mr Y’s care placement. However, the Council failed to ensure the Care Home implemented the protection plans it identified as necessary during a safeguarding enquiry. This did not cause Mr Y or Ms X an injustice. The Council agreed to ensure protection plans are appropriately monitored.

this complaint about the Council’s decision to end Miss X’s garage tenancy agreement. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

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

this complaint about the Council’s failure to provide suitable temporary accommodation for Mr X under its homelessness provisions. Mr X has requested a review of the decision on suitability and if he is unsuccessful, it is reasonable for him to appeal to the County Court on a point of law.

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s decision to bill him for council tax from 2010. We will not investigate this complaint because there is no evidence of fault by the Council causing injustice.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about allotment fees because part of the complaint is late and because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.