LGO Individual Decisions

Summary: We have found injustice to Miss X arising from delay in setting up her council tax account and the uncertainty she experienced about the local services available to her. The Council has agreed to the recommended actions we proposed to it.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Miss X’s housing benefit overpayment. Ms X’s complaint has been made late and there is no good reason to consider it now.

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council wrongly issuing him a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) and pursuing him for outstanding debt. This is because it would be reasonable for Mr X to submit his case to the Traffic Enforcement Centre. We also cannot investigate his complaint as the relative debt is registered with the court and so it is not in our jurisdiction to do so.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to respond to Mr X’s report of possible breaches of building regulations and delay in responding to his complaint. While the Council’s lack of response and failure to follow the complaint procedure is fault, we consider an investigation will not lead to a worthwhile outcome.

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s clinical waste collection service. We found no fault with the service provided to Mr X or of waste being incorrectly handled. An incident involving Mr X and the Council’s contractor was properly investigated and appropriate action taken.

Summary: We will not investigate Mr B’s complaint about the Council’s use of his personal data. This is because the Information Commissioner is better placed to consider this matter.

Mrs X complained about the Council's handling of her housing application, which she said prevented her moving from unsuitable accommodation that adversely affected her health and prevented her family from living together. We found fault in the Council’s handling of the application which caused Mrs X uncertainty. To put matters right, the Council agreed to apologise to Mrs X and undertake a further review of her application.

Summary: Mrs X complained that the Council has failed to fix the leisure centre doors which do not always open automatically for her as a wheelchair user when using the push pad. There was no fault in the Council’s attempts to fix the door. However, the Council does not have an adequate plan in place for how disabled people can access the leisure centre when the doors break. This has resulted in Mrs X having to wait outside on various occasions for a staff member to let her in which has caused distress and frustration. The Council agreed to apologise, make a symbolic payment and review its Equ

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of data at a public meeting because there is insufficient evidence of fault and we cannot achieve the outcome Mr X seeks.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s assessment of a housing application.

Summary: Mr and Mrs X complained about the Councils handling of their anti-social behaviour reports, and failure to enforce a community protection notice (CPN) and delay in providing a case outcome. We find the Council properly investigated their reports but there was fault in the Council’s approach to communication and support which caused Mr and Mrs X avoidable uncertainty, distress and frustration. The Council should apologise to Mr and Mrs X and make a payment to address the injustice caused.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to respond to communication from Mr X following the issuing to him of an Abatement Notice. This is because the complaint falls outside our jurisdiction due to the availability of appeal rights against the Notice to the Magistrates’ Court.

Summary: Mr S complained about the Council’s handling of his Council tax account. We have not found fault with the Council’s actions.

Summary: Ms X complained the Council placed an unsuitable tenant, Y, in her property, let through a Council scheme to support homeless people. Ms X also complained the Council failed to support Y when Ms X raised concerns about her behaviour. Ms X said Y damaged the property and she incurred significant costs because of this. There was fault in the way the Council did not secure an up to date reference and did not complete its complaint process. Ms X suffered uncertainty as a result of the fault and was put to time and trouble to complain. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a financial

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s correspondence with him about a dog noise complaint. This is because it is unlikely an investigation by this office could add to the responses already provided via the Council’s previous investigation.

Summary: Mr B complains about the Council’s decision not to award Community Infrastructure Levy (“CIL”) funding for a project in his local park. He says the project would have provided important improvements to the park and benefited residents. The Ombudsman does not find fault in how the Council considered the application for CIL funding.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Mr X’s business not receiving a COVID-19-related business grant. This is mainly because is not enough evidence fault by the Council caused Mr X to be without the grant.

Summary: Mr X complains the Council failed to prevent deductions the DWP made from his Universal Credit. Mr X also says the Council have not refunded all the moneys it owes. Mr X says that as a result of the Council’s actions, he suffered financial hardship. I have concluded my investigation and found fault in the Council’s failure to prevent and refund deductions taken from Mr X’s Universal Credit. This fault has caused Mr X an injustice, and I have proposed recommendations to the Council.

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of her neighbour’s planning application. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault.

Summary: Miss X complained the Council did not properly take account of her vulnerability when enforcing an unpaid penalty charge notice. Miss X says she suffered a harmful impact on her mental health and spent unnecessary time and trouble in trying to resolve the matter. We have found fault by the Council but do not consider it caused Miss X an injustice requiring a remedy in addition to the action the Council has already taken.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council disclosing the complainant’s personal details. This is because this matter is best dealt with by the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the decision to approve a planning application for a new school. This is because we

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s response to anti-social behaviour. This is because we are satisfied with the action the Council intends to take. It has agreed to carry out further investigation and consider how the issues impact Mr X.

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s decision to refuse to issue refunds to beach chalet users for the period between January and April 2021. The Ombudsman did not find fault with the Council’s decision-making.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the installation of play equipment at a local park. That is because there is insufficient evidence of fault in the Council’s actions or injustice to Mr X that warrants further investigation.