London Borough of Bromley (24 016 498)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Pollution 27-Feb-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about how the Council investigated reports of smoke pollution. We are unlikely to find fault in the Council’s decision and Mrs X has not been caused any personal injustice.

London Borough of Barnet (24 016 238)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Pollution 20-Feb-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s assessment of Mr X’s complaint of light pollution from a neighbouring property affecting his home. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Wakefield City Council (24 015 886)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Pollution 19-Feb-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to take action on his report of a light nuisance from a neighbouring property. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. The complaint is outside our jurisdiction as the complainant has already taken legal action on the matter.

London Borough of Croydon (24 008 523)

Statement Upheld Pollution 03-Feb-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about alleged failings by the Council to carry out regular street sweeping where the complainant lives, as well as a failure to respond to incidents of fly tipping. Though there was fault by the Council which caused the complainant an injustice in some areas, it is unlikely that further investigation of the issues complained about would lead to a different outcome. This is because the Council has acknowledged its fault and offered an appropriate remedy which addresses the injustice suffered.

West Berkshire Council (24 008 747)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Pollution 31-Oct-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council investigated reports of smoke nuisance. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.

Darlington Borough Council (24 007 930)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Pollution 09-Oct-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s civic enforcement team’s involvement in 2021. The complaint is late, and there are no good reasons for the Ombudsman to investigate now.

London Borough of Merton (24 005 755)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Pollution 03-Sep-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about how the Council investigated his reports of odour and fumes from a business, decided not to enforce, explained its decisions and dealt with his complaint. Even if there has been Council fault in all matters complained of, there is insufficient significant personal injustice caused to Mr X by them to warrant us investigating. We do not investigate council complaint-handling when not investigating the core issues giving rise to the complaint.

North West Leicestershire District Council (24 003 963)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Pollution 12-Aug-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s response to Ms X’s reports of dust nuisance from a nearby quarry. This is because we are unlikely to find evidence of fault by the Council sufficient to warrant an investigation.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council (23 014 233)

Statement Not upheld Pollution 25-Jul-2024

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.

London Borough of Brent (24 003 772)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Pollution 17-Jul-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council deciding not to action against her neighbours’ cigarette smoke drifting into her garden, and about the noise of their conversations. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s decision-making process about the smoke to warrant investigation. We also cannot achieve the outcome Mrs X seeks. Her complaint about noise is not a valid matter we can reinvestigate and we have not done so.