Decision details

The Council considered a complaint in relation to the management of land using the Councils complaints procedure. This complaint could not be resolved at Stage 2 of our process, and the complainant referred the matter to the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman (LGO).

The LGO investigated the complaint covering a range of issues regarding City Council public space at Highfields Tree Belt and found there was fault by the Council with two of the areas which caused the complainant injustice.

The LGO found the Council at fault in how it kept its records for its biodiversity assessments and inspections even when it does not identify and substantive issues or risks and in respect of security of the locked access to the site.

The LGO provided an agreed action for the council to demonstrate it had changed its record keeping procedures by 17th May 2023.

The LGO had subsequently been provided with evidence that the action had been completed and had formally accepted that the identified service improvement actions, offered by the Council to the complainant, have been fully actioned by the Council.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Open Spaces and City Services

Noted the findings of the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman in respect of this case and the actions taken by the Council in response to these findings.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The committee made no comments in response to the report from the Group Operations Manager.

The Committee unanimously resolved to note the report.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.