LGO Individual Decisions

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to impose an increase on Council Tax for second homes. It is reasonable to expect Mr X to appeal to Court.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a Council tax premium and discount because there is a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal.

Summary: We will not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint about the Council’s delay in investigating a noise complaint and its final decision. This complaint was received outside the normal 12-month period for investigating complaints. There is no evidence to suggest that Mr X could not have complained to us sooner.

Summary: We will not Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to close his housing application. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation.

Summary: We cannot investigate the Council’s handling of works to a wall and garage on Mr X’s garden boundary. This is because we cannot investigate complaints in connection with the Council’s actions as a landlord of social housing.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a housing application. At our invitation, the Council has agreed a suitable remedy for failing to reply to some of Mr X’s emails. On other points of the complaint either there is no fault, or we could not achieve more than the Council is now offering to do.

Summary: Mr X complains about how the Council assessed his priority for social housing. There was fault by the Council which caused avoidable distress, time, and trouble to Mr X. It also may have caused Mr X a missed opportunity to be allocated social housing that was suitable for him. The Council agreed to apologise, pay a financial remedy, and reconsider Mr X’s application, backdating this as needed. It will also introduce a checklist to ensure it properly records consideration of all factors outlined in its housing allocation policy, when considering housing applications.

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to follow the recommendations set out in the Ombudsman’s previous investigation. Mr X also complained the Council failed to act in response to the school next to his property installing new floodlights causing a light nuisance. We did not find fault with the Council.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of the complainant’s Right to Buy application. 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 use the legal notice of delay procedure and, if needed, to take the Council to court.

Summary: Mrs X complained about delays in rehousing her. We ended our investigation into Mrs X’s complaint. It was unlikely further investigation would lead to a different outcome, since the Council offered, and Mrs X accepted, a property more suitable for her needs.

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 that the Council has been racist in its treatment of Mr X. This is because we are unlikely to find evidence of fault by the Council.

Summary: Miss X complained about the Council’s handling of her homelessness application. We have found the Council to be at fault because it took too long to process her case and gave her incorrect advice. To remedy the injustice to Miss X, the Council has agreed to increase the payment it already offered to her to take account of avoidable court costs she had to pay. We have not found fault with how the Council dealt with her request for an additional bedroom.

Summary: A woman complained that the Council had not dealt properly with her homelessness case after her landlord gave her notice to leave. But we will not investigate this matter as the Council has taken an application from the woman and is currently trying to prevent her from becoming homeless.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a planning application and the possible breach of a planning condition. This is because we are unlikely to find fault and the complainant has not been caused any personal injustice.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a planning application. This is because the complainant has not been caused significant injustice.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to issue Ms X a fine for not having a selective licence for her rental property. That is because there is insufficient evidence of fault in how the Council made that decision to warrant further investigation.