LGO Individual Decisions

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council refusing to take planning enforcement action against an outbuilding, which was not built in accordance with the approved plans. There is insufficient evidence of fault in the way the Council reached its decision on the enforcement case, and an investigation is unlikely to establish whether a council officer was unprofessional during a site visit.

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about damage caused to his driveway during adaptation works. This is because this is a complaint about negligence which is a legal matter for the courts to consider and decide. We cannot decide a negligence claim.

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the fee the Council charged for an interment. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council to warrant an investigation.

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that he has been excluded from a tenancy agreement. This is because there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation.

Summary: Mr Y complained how the Council handled Mr X’s homelessness after a fire at his home. He says the Council failed to take appropriate action in line with homelessness legislation. We find the Council was at fault for its delay in taking a homeless application from Mr X and its failure to offer interim accommodation. This meant Mr X had to live in unsuitable accommodation. The Council has agreed to our recommendations to make a payment to Mr X and implement service improvements.

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council delayed the progress of a Disabled Facilities Grant for work needed for the benefit of her son. The scheme was not completed within the maximum timeframes set out in government guidance causing significant distress to the family. There is evidence of periods of inaction and delay which is fault. A suitable remedy is agreed.

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council wrongly took court action against him for breaches of planning control. This is because we cannot investigate the start of court action or what happened at court.

Summary: X complained about the Council’s failure to retain mature trees behind their home, which is a listed building. The mature trees were intended to provide screening from a new development and protect the setting of the listed building. We found fault because the Council has no record to show why it allowed existing trees to be replaced with smaller trees under a planting scheme. The Council agreed to the remedy we recommended.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s approval of a planning application. The complaint is late and we have seen no reason why Mr X could not have contacted the Ombudsman much sooner.

Summary: Mr X says the Council did not give him enough time to consider its offer of a property. We will not investigate as Mr X has made his complaint late and there are no good reasons to investigate now.

Summary: Mr X complained about the way the Council handled his homelessness application and referral to another Council. There was some fault by the Council as it did not offer Mr X interim accommodation for one night, causing Mr X to pay for his own accommodation. The Council agreed to apologise to Mr X and make a payment for the distress caused.

Summary: Mr X complained the Council did not properly consider his housing application. We have not found fault in the way the Council reviewed its decision not to award him medical priority. But we have found fault by the Council in failing to tell Mr X of his right to request a review of its decision to disqualify him from the housing register. We consider the Council has provided a satisfactory remedy for the injustice this fault caused Mr X by inviting him to ask for a review of the decision.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a penalty charge notice as Mr X had the right to appeal against it to an independent tribunal.

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s decision to remove him from the housing register. We have found no fault in the Council’s decision making and we are satisfied it has already remedied the injustice arising from its delay.