LGO Individual Decisions

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to enforce a section 106 agreement to provide community facilities. We found no fault in the Council’s actions.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a council tax bill sent in error. This is because the Council has already provided a suitable remedy and we cannot achieve the outcome Mr X wants.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of the complainant’s business rates account, including its consideration of his hardship relief application. There is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council, and we are unlikely to achieve a better outcome for the complainant than the action already proposed by the Council.

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint the Council refused his request for a Valuation Tribunal appeal decided entirely on the papers to meet his disability-related needs. This is because the complaint overlaps with the role of the Tribunal to decide how to handle the issue.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to accept a second retrospective planning application for a site close to the complainant’s home. The complainant also says the Council failed to fully answer his complaint. We do not consider the complainant has suffered a significant personal injustice because the Council’s actions which warrants an investigation.

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about a housing benefit overpayment. This is because Mrs X has appealed to the Tribunal.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council told Mr X about his council tax appeal right. There is not enough evidence of fault.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about council tax arrears and an attachment of earnings order. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council and because we cannot investigate any issue that forms part of court proceedings. In addition, the complainant can complain to the Information Commissioner.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council pursuing council tax arrears. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify our involvement.

Summary: Ms X complained about various aspects of an ASB Case Review. We have concluded our investigation having made a finding of fault. The Council were delayed in sending Ms X a copy of the Case Review report, but it has sufficiently remedied this. We did not find fault for further matters complained about; the Case Review report sets out the matters considered and there is no evidence to suggest the Council did not consider all the information put before it. The report concluded that no further action should be taken, and this is a judgement the Council were entitled to make.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a housing benefit overpayment because a right of appeal to a tribunal has been used and the complaint is out of time.

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council not providing a garden waste collection he expected to receive over Christmas, and that its service contract is unfair and in breach of consumer law. There is insufficient significant personal injustice to Mr X caused by the matters complained of to warrant us investigating. It would be reasonable for him to pursue any legal finding regarding the contract in court.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the application of a 100% premium to his Council tax as he could appeal to a Valuation Tribunal.

Summary: Ms X complains about the way the Council considered a planning application for development and a breach of a planning condition at a nearby agricultural business causing distress and loss of amenity. We have found no evidence of fault in the way the Council considered these matters. So, we have completed our investigation.

Summary: Ms X complains about the way the Council dealt with her complaints of nuisance caused by dust and odour from a nearby agricultural business.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about council tax liability. It is reasonable for Mr X to use his statutory right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a council tax refund because the problem has been resolved. If the complainant remains dissatisfied, he can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.

Ms X complains that the Council has unreasonably refused her Council tax support for her heating bills. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because the matter has been remedied.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a breach of planning control or a retrospective planning application. This is because the complainant had the right to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a planning application. This is because the complainant has not suffered significant injustice as a result of the alleged fault.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s issuing of a Community Protection Warning letter to Mr X. This is because an investigation is unlikely to add to the investigation already carried out by the Council or lead to a different outcome.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a bike theft from a Council car park. This is because we cannot investigate allegations of crime and the complainant would need to seek compensation through insurers or the courts.

Summary: Mrs F has made complaint about the Council’s approach to planning and the development of land in her local area. In general terms, she complains about flawed decisions by the Council relating to policy, planning conditions and enforcement action. Mrs F alleges the primary injustice to her is harm to the natural wildlife in her local area. She also explains the Council’s decisions have failed to mitigate harm to the character of the area she lives in. We found the majority of issues raised by Mrs F are late and that the Ombudsman has no legal jurisdiction to investigate them. Moreover,

Summary: Ms X complains about the Council’s decision to take enforcement action for historic council tax arrears and the handling of her vulnerability as a debtor. We do not find fault in the Council’s decision to pursue the historic debts. However, we have found fault in the Council’s handling of Ms X’s vulnerability as a debtor. To remedy this, the Council has agreed to apologise to Ms X, review Ms X’s case with the bailiffs and make a service improvement.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions concerning the complainant’s property. Further investigation is unlikely to lead to a different outcome.