LGO Individual Decisions

Summary: We have completed our investigation into how the Council dealt with Mrs X’s allegations of planning breaches and her complaint. We find no fault in the way the Council made its decisions and responded to the complaint.

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about how the Council decided to install barriers at the entrance to a country park. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation.

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to suspend her housing register account. There is insufficient evidence of fault to warrant an investigation.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s assessment of a housing application. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council refusing Miss X’s application to join its housing register. This is mainly because there is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s decision-making to justify investigating.

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council charging a premium for second homes. This is because we cannot achieve the outcome Mrs X is seeking.

Summary: We will not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint about the Council’s recovery of council tax arrears since 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. We have no jurisdiction to investigate complaints about matters which have been subject to court proceedings.

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of her housing benefit and council tax reduction. This is because, at our invitation, the Council agreed to make a symbolic payment to Mrs X. We consider this to be a suitable remedy.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to add a property to its local list. We have not seen enough evidence of fault in the way the Council made its decision. And we cannot achieve the outcome the complainant is seeking.

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint that the Council failed to act on her reports of noise nuisance caused by her neighbour since 2020. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault in the Council’s decision-making. Furthermore, part of the complaint is late, and an investigation into the remaining issues would not achieve any additional outcome.

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the qualification criteria for the Council’s housing scheme because we are unlikely to find fault.

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s recovery of overpayments of housing benefit. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. The complaint has been made late and it was reasonable to expect Ms X to use her right of appeal to a tribunal.

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the information the Council provided to him and how staff spoke to him. This is because an investigation would not lead to any further or worthwhile outcomes.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Mrs X’s business not receiving business rates relief in 2022/23. This is mainly because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council.

Summary: X complained about the Council’s decision not to take action when trees were felled on land near X’s home. We did not find fault in relation to this incident, but we did find the Council was at fault for previously treating a tree as if it was protected under a Tree Preservation Order, when it was not. We made recommendations to the Council, which it has agreed to carry out.

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint because the Council is not responsible for the issue Mr X complains about.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to take enforcement action against a breach of planning control. There is insufficient evidence of fault in the Council’s actions to justify an investigation.

Summary: Mr X complained about repeated missed bin collections and the Council’s response to his complaints. The Council was at fault for missing Mr X’s bin collections, poor complaints handling and failing to consider Mr X’s reasonable adjustments. This caused Mr X avoidable distress and uncertainty. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mr X for failing to consider his reasonable adjustments and pay him £200 to acknowledge the distress caused.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of planning applications and associated enforcement matters relating to a development next to the complainant’s home. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. It is reasonable to expect the complainant to have contacted us sooner about the earlier events, there is not enough evidence of fault causing injustice in the determination of the retrospective application, and the Council has apologised for errors related to the complaints pr

Summary: Mr X complains the Council has not dealt properly with reports of noise nuisance. The Council is at fault because it delayed investigating his complaint, did not follow its guidance, did not consider using all its powers to deal with anti-social noise and did not deal with his complaint properly. The Council should apologise to Mr X, pay Mr X £700 in respect of avoidable distress caused to him and provide guidance to staff.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s investigation in 2019 concerning who was living at the House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) in which Mr X resides. This is because the complaint is a late complaint and so falls outside our jurisdiction.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision that the complainant is not eligible for the £150 energy rebate. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council not letting Miss X join its housing register. There is not enough evidence of fault by the Council.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s consideration of three planning applications. Two of the complaints are late and we have seen no reason to exercise discretion. There is not enough evidence of fault in the way the Council has considered the most recent planning application which has been withdrawn.

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s decision to approve a planning application for an airport runway extension. Mr X said the development will increase noise in his area. We did not investigate this complaint further, as we are unlikely to find fault, provide the outcome Mr X would like or any other meaningful outcome.