Environmental policy funding
Withdrawal or reduction of government funding for long-term environmental data collection and inadequate funding for environmental land management schemes.
Source spread
Where this theme appears
This theme appears across 9 independent accountability sources, so the source mix matters as much as the headline total.
12 inquiry recs
8 PFD reports
1652 committee recs
80 NAO recs
3 IMB recs
11 PHSO decisions
960 LGO/SPSO decisions
1 CJINI report
Browse by source
Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
Inquiry recommendations(12)
MAI-159 — Consider funding arrangements for police services
Recommendation: The Inquiry heard evidence that the impact of public funding cuts fell disproportionately hard on metropolitan police services, such as Greater Manchester Police, compared with non-metropolitan services. In the event that public funding cuts are in the future considered necessary …
Gov response: Accepted in full
Accepted
MAI-156 — Ambulance Liaison Officer resourcing
Recommendation: The Home Office, the Department of Health and Social Care and the National Ambulance Resilience Unit should consider how to ensure that the role of an Ambulance Liaison Officer is properly resourced and also whether venue operators should fund the …
Gov response: Accepted in full
Accepted
MAI-148 — LRF staffing and resources
Recommendation: The Home Office should consider, together with local resilience forums, how they are to have sufficient staff and resources to enable them to function effectively.
Gov response: Accepted in full
Accepted
MAI-143 — Consistent and sufficient LRF funding
Recommendation: The Home Office should consider how local resilience forums are to be funded consistently and sufficiently to enable them to do their important work.
Gov response: Accepted in full
Accepted
2 — Krypton 85 removal plant development
Recommendation: BNFL should devote effort to the development of plant for the safe removal and retention of krypton 85 and, if development proves successful, should incorporate it in the proposed plant (para 10.52).
Unknown
FLIX-224 — Urgently investigate crack propagation and corrosion protection for clad steel vessels
Recommendation: The question of crack propagation and detection in internally clad mild steel vessels and their protection from corrosion on the outside should be investigated as a matter of urgency.
Unknown
FLIX-223 — Review regulations for licensing and storage of highly flammable liquids
Recommendation: We have pointed out in Paragraph 194 (c) above that the present situation is unsatisfactory. We recommend review of the existing regulations.
Unknown
FLIX-221 — Devise scheme for HSE to advise planning authorities on plant safety
Recommendation: A scheme for co-ordination between the planning authorities and the Health and Safety Executive should be devised so that the planning authorities may be advised on the safety problems involved in any proposed plant before planning permission is granted.
Unknown
FLIX-216 — Install fire and explosion-proof recording devices for vital plant information
Recommendation: It is recommended that consideration be given to installing devices or systems for recording vital plant information in a form which would survive the effects of fire or explosion. An example of such a device is the “black-box” used in …
Unknown
FLIX-214 — Inform industry about rapid creep cavitation fractures in stainless steel
Recommendation: Creep cavitation fractures in stainless steel have been known for some time but previously it had not been generally known that these could, under appropriate conditions of stress and temperature be produced in a relatively short time. Such a fracture …
Unknown
FLIX-213 — Alert industry to risks of zinc-coated components in chemical plants
Recommendation: Since many chemical plants contain zinc coated components, eg galvanised wire and walkways, it is important that the attention of industry should be drawn to these matters.
Unknown
FLIX-212 — Alert industry to nitrate stress corrosion risk from contaminated cooling water
Recommendation: The cracked Reactor R2525 initiated the sequence of events which led to disaster. Examination of the crack by expert metallurgists showed that the crack had been caused by nitrate stress corrosion. This corrosion was created because nitrate treated cooling water …
Unknown
Prevention of Future Deaths reports(8)
Komba Kpakiwa
Concerns: The coroner identified concerns regarding the swimming pool's dangerous profile and inadequate risk assessments for its features and non-swimmers. There was insufficient supervision, no staff trained in aquatic rescue, and unclear signage.
Response (IOSH): • IOSH stated it would include a summary of the key findings in the September 2014 issue of its member magazine, the Safety and Health Practitioner. • IOSH stated it … (AI summary)
Overdue
John Darling
Concerns: The coroner noted an unguarded cafe platform edge with a metre drop, posing a fall risk, particularly for children or those in buggies, a risk exacerbated by an incline. The planning department had not required a safety barrier.
Overdue
Harold Davies
Concerns: Concerns include multiple fatalities at a road junction since 2010, with proposed safety work lacking funding approval or a start date. The coroner also notes concerns about the speed limit and warning signs on Station Road.
Response (National Highways): • National Highways cleared vegetation around the Station Road junction to improve visibility. • National Highways is seeking funding for a designed accident remedial scheme, escalating the request to senior … (AI summary)
Response (A One): • A-one+ made recommendations to Highways England regarding junction safety improvements. • A-one+ agreed to a meeting with Nottinghamshire Police, Nottinghamshire County Council, and Highways England. • A-one+ stated it … (AI summary)
Response (Nottinghamshire County Council): • The council stated it had not carried out investigations into the incidents, noting the Trunk Road is the responsibility of Highways England. • The council indicated it would co-operate … (AI summary)
Responded
James McLaren
Concerns: The coroner identified issues with the security of commercial and communal bins, including unsecured lids and easily opened locks, making it foreseeable for individuals to seek shelter, particularly in dark or isolated areas. The report calls for clarification on what constitutes a 'secure' bin in formal guidance and for increased national awareness and checks by waste operators.
Response (Health and Safety Executive): • The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) clarified that its endorsed WISH WASTE 25 guidance defines 'secure' as preventing a person from physically entering a bin. • The HSE noted … (AI summary)
Response (ESA): • The Environmental Services Association (ESA) will re-issue a safety alert to its members in December 2018. • The alert will include a link to WISH Waste 25 guidance on … (AI summary)
Response (CIWM): • CIWM has promoted national awareness campaigns and guidance documents, including the 2014 'Research into the issues, risks and prevention of people sleeping in bins' report and WASTE25 guidance. • … (AI summary)
Response (LGA): • The LGA will include an item on the risk of death and injury in large bins in relevant LGA bulletins and updates to councils. • These communications will be … (AI summary)
Responded
Ella Kissi-Debrah
Concerns: The coroner noted national Particulate Matter limits exceed WHO guidelines, alongside low public awareness of air pollution information and insufficient communication of health effects by medical professionals to patients and carers.
Response (Central Government Departments DEFRA DFT and DHSC): • The government committed to setting new annual mean concentration and population exposure reduction targets for PM2.5 through the Environment Bill, with a public consultation planned for early 2022. • … (AI summary)
Response (Mayor of London): • The Mayor of London has implemented an air quality alerts system, funded new air quality sensors, and launched public information campaigns to raise awareness of pollution levels. • A … (AI summary)
Response (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence): • NICE conducted an exceptional surveillance review of its asthma guideline (NG80). • The guideline was amended in March 2021 to acknowledge the link between air pollution and asthma, clarify … (AI summary)
Response (Royal College of General Practitioners): • The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has been working to raise the profile of the impact of pollution at public health and policy levels. • The RCGP is … (AI summary)
Response (Royal College of Physicians): • The Royal College of Physicians provided expert opinion in a joint report with RCPCH, 'Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air pollution'. (AI summary)
Response (NMC): • The NMC stated it would consider the concerns raised in the report during its evaluation of the new Future Nurse pre-registration standards. • The NMC stated it would consider … (AI summary)
Response (British Thoracic Society): • The British Thoracic Society (BTS) has published guidelines, including the 2019 BTS/SIGN Guideline for the Management of Asthma, which references the link between air pollutants and asthma symptoms. • … (AI summary)
Response (Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health): • The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) curriculum requires paediatricians to demonstrate capabilities in understanding environmental contexts of health and illness prevention. • The RCPCH is developing … (AI summary)
Response (NHS England): • HEE stated it would write to medical Royal Colleges, the General Medical Council, and the Nursing & Midwifery Council to highlight that awareness of the impact of air pollution … (AI summary)
Response (GMC): • The GMC updated its Outcomes for graduates in 2018 to require newly qualified doctors to recognise environmental exposure signs and evaluate environmental factors influencing health. • A new Foundation … (AI summary)
Response (UK Health Alliance on Climate Change): • The UK Health Alliance on Climate Change delivered a pilot project to educate paediatricians and respiratory health professionals on providing advice about air pollution. • This pilot project included … (AI summary)
Response (London Borough of Lewisham): • The London Borough of Lewisham expanded air quality monitoring capacity, including the Honor Oak Park 'supersite' and doubling diffusion tube sites by the end of 2020. • The borough … (AI summary)
Responded
Michael Holmes
Concerns: The coroner raised concerns about the arrangements for public footpaths traversing fields with cattle, particularly cows with calves, citing an unacceptable risk of trampling incidents. Further clarity is needed regarding rules for walkers with dogs on public rights of way.
Response (Wakefield Council): • Wakefield Council processed an application to divert public footpaths, making three Diversion Orders. • Wakefield Council referred the contested diversion order for the incident field to the Secretary of … (AI summary)
Response (Health and Safety Executive): • The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides guidance to farmers on managing risks from cattle in fields with public access through its publication AIS17. • HSE enforces the Health … (AI summary)
Response (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs): • Defra stated it is committed to implementing rights of way reforms, including giving landowners the statutory right to apply for public path orders to permanently extinguish or divert footpaths … (AI summary)
Overdue
Kaius Tutt
Concerns: The coroner noted faded deflection arrows and visibility issues near a roundabout, alongside a marginal overtaking opportunity at the collision site. A recommendation to remove the downhill overtaking section lacks funding for implementation.
Response (Cornwall Council): • The Highway Authority confirmed it had arranged for the removal of the downhill overtaking section. • This removal is anticipated to be completed around the end of June 2023. … (AI summary)
Responded
Nigel Sweet
Concerns: The coroner identified that a specific section of the A38 has a higher proportion of road traffic collisions due to its single carriageway layout. A developed safety scheme, incorporating average speed cameras, has not yet been funded.
Response (National Highways): • National Highways plans to implement an Average Speed Camera System (ASCS) between Carkeel and Trerulefoot. • National Highways plans to reduce the speed limit through the villages of Landrake … (AI summary)
Responded
Select committee recommendations(1652)— showing 50 strongest matches
#77 —
Recommendation: Evidence highlighted many different types of building materials that are successfully used in the construction sector in the UK, although not necessarily at a large scale. These included hemp, 124 wool-fibre insulation 125 and stone. 126 We were told such …
#25 —
Recommendation: Through the organisation of supply chains to prioritise domestic materials and products, locally sourced where possible, the environmental impact of transport could be lowered, as many core materials are currently imported from overseas. 39 Furthermore, by using locally sourced materials, …
#50 —
Recommendation: We recommend an uplift in funding for marine monitoring to ensure more rigorous data collection at sea.
Response attribution not verified
#49 —
Recommendation: The Committee heard that the current resources available for marine monitoring are not sufficient to generate repeated and statistically robust time-series sampling points which are necessary for tracking and forming a baseline understanding of site conditions. Multiple stakeholders reported the …
Response attribution not verified
#42 —
Recommendation: We recommend that Local Nature Partnerships be appropriately resourced for their role in helping deliver LNRSs.
Response attribution not verified
#38 —
Recommendation: We recommend that the Government work with Natural England to design and implement an advisory mechanism that will support farmers in navigating ELMS to maximise the amount of land that is currently or may in the future be able to …
Response attribution not verified
#28 —
Recommendation: We recommend that the Government enable and resource Natural England to develop and publicise accessible digital and offline tools and communications to enable members of the public to learn about and engage with their local protected areas.
Response attribution not verified
#25 —
Recommendation: We acknowledge that a significant increase in Government-administered monitoring is both staff and resource intensive at a time when there are significant competing demands on public finances. Citizen science data-gathering could play an important role in augmenting and strengthening the …
Response attribution not verified
#24 —
Recommendation: We recommend that the Government prioritise establishing effective partnership working with the devolved administrations and the UK Overseas Territories. This will require an investment of time and the sufficient allocation of resources to support activities in the UK Overseas Territories …
Response attribution not verified
#21 —
Recommendation: Delivering 30 by 30 will require investment of time, resources and coordination led by Defra to work in partnership with other bodies. The target will not be delivered by Defra alone.
Response attribution not verified
#20 —
Recommendation: The impact of threats to the environment are managed by a wide range of policies and corresponding government departments and devolved administrations. Achieving 30 by 30 will be a collaborative goal and will require effective and joined up working beyond …
Response attribution not verified
#19 —
Recommendation: We welcome the resourcing of Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs), but for them to deliver on the creation of sites to achieve connectivity, not just identify them, they must be given sufficient weight in the planning system as described further …
Response attribution not verified
#11 —
Recommendation: The Committee heard from a number of stakeholders that a lack of a statutory duty for SSSI monitoring has, due to implementation of past budget cuts, meant monitoring has become a casualty of resource constraints. A statutory monitoring duty would …
Response attribution not verified
#10 —
Recommendation: While the Committee recognises the challenges posed by a constrained budget, the Government needs to develop an effective policy with a sustained funding commitment to deliver regular monitoring of SSSIs and for each site to be monitored every six years. …
Response attribution not verified
#2 —
Recommendation: We recommend that all existing designations for nature conservation in England be retained as a basis for the 30 by 30 target . They will require investment in resources and incentives for better management to meet clear nature conservation objectives, …
Response attribution not verified
#155 —
Recommendation: The Government should support the authorities responsible for local nature recovery strategies to ensure that they bring together information and actions to enhance the environment. Relevant authorities should develop biodiversity net gain credit schemes which support the delivery of local …
Response attribution not verified
#143 —
Recommendation: It is unrealistic to expect the market to immediately provide a private sector mitigation solution for new regulatory schemes, especially where there is political uncertainty about their longevity. When new types of mitigation are required owing to advice from statutory …
Response attribution not verified
#141 —
Recommendation: Developers must offset the pollution caused by their scheme in total and this can be impacted by property size and on-site management methods. 188 For nutrient neutrality the performance of local wastewater treatment works is a key determinant in the …
Response attribution not verified
#140 —
Recommendation: The cost of providing mitigation varies significantly between individual schemes and across geographic areas. The Country Land and Business Association described nutrient mitigation costs as a “postcode lottery” even within local planning authorities (LPAs). 185 Examples of the charges associated …
Response attribution not verified
#138 —
Recommendation: As discussed in Chapter 3, when it is identified that a development proposal will have an impact on the environment, it is usually required to mitigate the impact. This is done through: on-site measures to reduce harm; payments through the …
Response attribution not verified
#101 —
Recommendation: By way of example, the Minister for Housing and Planning, Rachel Maclean MP, sits in DLUHC which is also responsible for local government finance and policy. 137 However, the introduction of biodiversity net gain and local nature recovery strategies has …
Response attribution not verified
#90 —
Recommendation: The Government should explore how mitigation schemes could finance improving existing housing stock, building on the model in Crawley. It is unlikely that this approach will provide sufficient offsetting to meet housing demand, but it should be considered a key …
Response attribution not verified
#85 —
Recommendation: We welcome proposals in the Levelling- up and Regeneration Bill for the Environment Agency to review the environmental permits of plants which discharge treated effluent into catchments impacted by nutrient pollution. This should be expanded to agricultural activity. The Environment …
Response attribution not verified
#84 —
Recommendation: The Government should develop integrated plans for addressing all areas of conflict between development and environmental policies before legal backstops are reached and development is halted. These must include implementation plans and be in line with the environmental principles policy …
Response attribution not verified
#83 —
Recommendation: The Government must prioritise implementing the Integrated Plan for Water and publish the information sought by its arm’s-length bodies, including setting out the balance of priorities between farming and other sectors in addressing nutrient pollution. In doing this it should …
Response attribution not verified
#82 —
Recommendation: We were concerned to hear that the Government’s Integrated Plan for Water, proposed as the solution to nutrient pollution, is not yet able to deliver genuine change. The Government has shied away from taking the necessary decisions and risks failing …
Response attribution not verified
#81 —
Recommendation: Local housebuilding remains stalled in many areas owing to the condition of protected sites; therefore, answering these questions to ensure the Integrated Plan for Water can be properly implemented is vital for local economies, to address the housing crisis and …
Response attribution not verified
#80 —
Recommendation: It is unclear how this plan will be implemented. John Curtin, interim Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, suggested that resolving the implementation approach for the IPW would require political decisions on the balance of responsibility between sectors for addressing …
Response attribution not verified
#79 —
Recommendation: The UK Government’s proposed solution to this issue is the Integrated Plan for Water, which aims to “transform management of the whole water system, deliver a clean water environment for nature and people, and secure a plentiful supply of water”. …
Response attribution not verified
#77 —
Recommendation: The Government has acknowledged this imbalance in addressing nutrient pollution. Trudy Harrison MP, Minister for Natural Environment and Land Use told us “I absolutely sympathise and agree that it feels incredibly unfair to housebuilders.” 107 Box 4: The Netherlands’s nitrogen …
Response attribution not verified
#75 —
Recommendation: Too often, the outcome of government policies and regulations place responsibility for preventing and addressing historic pollution onto those with limited, if any, power to effect change. Balancing the social, environmental and economic benefits and costs of development is a …
Response attribution not verified
#73 —
Recommendation: Large, and growing, up-front costs disincentivise developers of all sizes from entering the housing market. For smaller developers with limited access to finance they are a greater burden. Whilst developers are willing and able to cover these costs in many …
Response attribution not verified
#72 —
Recommendation: The Government should ensure that local planning authorities are prohibited from introducing biodiversity net gain requirements above the 10 per cent minimum for small sites. These sites should be exempt from following the mitigation hierarchy and immediately permitted to deliver …
Response attribution not verified
#70 —
Recommendation: Following the passage of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill, the Secretary of State should use their powers to ensure that all wastewater treatment works with capacity for a population of 250 are upgraded by the 2030 deadline.
Response attribution not verified
#69 —
Recommendation: All public sector development mitigation schemes should prioritise provision for small developers.
Response attribution not verified
#68 —
Recommendation: Effective moratoria on housebuilding caused by advice such as nutrient and water neutrality risk putting small developers out of business in affected areas.
Response attribution not verified
#59 —
Recommendation: The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities should work with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to review planning and permitting requirements for brownfield land and eliminate overlap. This should include checks on how brownfield sites are …
Response attribution not verified
#57 —
Recommendation: The Government should ensure that remediating brownfield sites is not disincentivised by biodiversity net gain requirements. Local planning authorities should be able to moderate biodiversity net gain requirements for sites on their brownfield registers.
Response attribution not verified
#49 —
Recommendation: More detail should be provided on the proposed approach to monitoring and enforcing the long-term delivery of biodiversity net gain. Where local planning authorities are required to undertake ongoing monitoring, the Government should provide sufficient resources for this. The Office …
Response attribution not verified
#48 —
Recommendation: The Government should support the authorities responsible for local nature recovery strategies to ensure that they bring together information and actions to enhance the environment. Relevant authorities should develop biodiversity net gain credit schemes which support the delivery of local …
Response attribution not verified
#46 —
Recommendation: There is a preference among developers of all sizes for off-site mitigation to be managed centrally with clear and predictable costs to allow them to factor these into land value calculations. In these circumstances, the costs can be borne by …
Response attribution not verified
#44 —
Recommendation: Where there is a model in place for cost recovery through the planning process, the Government should provide up front funding to local planning authorities to undertake mitigation activity. This could be repaid through the creation of a local credit …
Response attribution not verified
#42 —
Recommendation: The lack of managed credit-purchase mitigation schemes for specific pollutants or in certain areas is restricting developers’ ability to gain planning permission.
Response attribution not verified
#41 —
Recommendation: When new types of mitigation are required owing to advice from statutory consultees, the Government should work with Natural England to provide public sector mitigation schemes in the immediate term. These can be closed to new applicants or become a …
Response attribution not verified
#35 —
Recommendation: We welcome the Government taking steps to address the funding shortfall in local authority planning departments.
Response attribution not verified
#21 —
Recommendation: The Government should explore how mitigation schemes could finance improving existing housing stock, building on the model in Crawley. It is unlikely that this approach will provide sufficient offsetting to meet housing demand, but it should be considered a key …
Response attribution not verified
#170 —
Recommendation: India’s priorities include building partnerships with all stakeholders in the region, upholding international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as it applies to the Arctic, participating actively in climate change and environmental treaty frameworks …
Response attribution not verified
#160 —
Recommendation: China has shown a strong interest in contributing to polar research and environmental protection in the region. The UK should continue to engage with China on scientific research and climate change issues as they relate to the Arctic, where possible, …
Response attribution not verified
#28 —
Recommendation: The UK’s stated policy on protecting Arctic biodiversity and mitigating climate change requires new fossil fuel extraction in the Arctic region to be kept to a minimum. The UK can most effectively contribute to this goal by adhering to its …
Gov response: Agree. 27. The Government is committed to delivering on net zero at home and to driving forward progress internationally to keep 1.5C alive in this critical decade. The COP28 outcome held 1.5 degrees as a …
Position Not Stated
#27 —
Recommendation: We recognise that Norway has a comprehensive framework in place to respond to an oil spill emergency. Nonetheless, the UK Government should continue to press for high environmental standards and the protection of the Arctic marine environment by contributing to …
Response attribution not verified
NAO audit recommendations(80)— showing 50 strongest matches
Resilience to flooding
e assess how well the geographical distribution of investment reflects needs at a local level and publish their findings by the end of 2024 together with proposals to mitigate any funding inequalities that this may identify
Partially accepted
Resilience to flooding
by April 2024, explore how to ensure there is the necessary flexibility to easily switch money from the capital programme into the asset maintenance budget where it is value for money, and ensure the decision-making process is streamlined to enable …
Accepted
Active Travel in England
DfT should: c. develop a more stable funding environment for local authorities delivering active travel interventions by working with others in government. This would help local authorities to invest in plans and resources and deliver interventions more efficiently;
Accepted
Tackling local breaches of air quality
d) collate information on government?s committed/actual spend on measures it expects to make a substantial contribution to improving air quality, alongside the expected/actual impact these measures are having
Rejected
Planting Trees in England
f) work with the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury to identify and act on opportunities across government to support the achievement of government’s tree-planting targets.
Accepted
Achieving government’s long-term environmental goals
• assesses the short-, medium- and long-term costs of this delivery plan to ensure that Defra and HM Treasury have a shared view of the associated costs and how these might be financed.
Accepted
Government resilience: extreme weather
LGDs, working with HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office, should encourage greater investment in climate adaptation from the private sector. This might involve publicising the benefits the private sector derives from adaptation, expanding the use of UK green gilts or …
Resilience to flooding
f engage over the next year with the private sector at a national and local level to publicise the benefits the private sector derives from the capital programme and encourage increased private sector financial contribution to the capital programme to …
Partially accepted
Resilience to flooding
d take realistic account of staff resource constraints when setting out the objectives, scope and ambition of the next capital programme and the impacts on whole-life asset management
Accepted
Resilience to flooding
Defra, EA and HM Treasury should: a work together to ensure that decisions on the current reprofiling of the capital programme are not influenced by short-term funding periods and targets and are focused on maximising long-term value for money
Accepted
Active Travel in England
? It should review its Gear Change actions and set out publicly which of these it will not be able to make further progress with, given available funding and its strategic priorities.
Rejected
Active Travel in England
? It should consider whether its objectives remain achievable or whether it would be appropriate to adjust its targets, considering progress to date and available funding.
Rejected
Regulating to achieve environmental outcomes
Defra should do the following: a) By December 2024, as Defra complies with its statutory reporting requirements under the Environment Act, it should incorporate detailed operational plans for how it will achieve the goals of the EIP, including the role …
Accepted
Tackling local breaches of air quality
b) clarify its long-term (2040) ambitions for all major air pollutants, taking account of the plans of international partners, and identify interim (2030) objectives where these do not already exist
Partially accepted
Tackling local breaches of air quality
Defra should: a) ensure that the update to the National Air Pollution Control Programme includes sufficient clarity on how proposed measures will enable the UK to achieve its 2030 targets and the timetable for implementation, given there are now eight …
Accepted
Planting Trees in England
Our review of the Programme has identified factors that are likely to be replicated across government as it increases activity aimed at achieving its net zero target, particularly the perceived urgency with which action is required. We therefore recommend that …
Accepted
Planting Trees in England
e) incorporate a measure of the proportion of woodlands that are well managed into its target for increasing woodland cover by 2050; and
Partially accepted
Local government and net zero in England
We also recommend that the local government sector considers how best to disseminate good practice on local authority work on net zero given the scale and urgency of the net zero challenge, and the wide range of different opportunities and …
Local government and net zero in England
g) work with local authorities to assess the skills gaps for their work towards the national net zero target and how these might be addressed, drawing on the work of the Green Jobs Taskforce.
Accepted
Local government and net zero in England
f) set an appropriate review point, within the next 18 months, to assess the extent to which local authorities have in practice been able to use wider funding for economic growth and ‘levelling up’ in ways that align with net …
Partially accepted
Local government and net zero in England
e) carry out an overall outline analysis of local authority funding for net zero, to inform the next Comprehensive Spending Review. This should: i) be developed in parallel with, and informed by, the development of a clearer articulation of local …
Partially accepted
Local government and net zero in England
d) convene a local and central government working group to establish a few simple standards for local authority reporting on net zero. This group should have a clear remit to develop standards that make it quicker and easier for local …
Accepted
Local government and net zero in England
c) set out a clear pathway for how government expects to further align the planning system with net zero in the forthcoming planning reforms.
Accepted
Local government and net zero in England
b) work in partnership with local authorities and their representative bodies to develop a dedicated section in the overall and sector decarbonisation strategies to set out how key actions, decisions and responsibilities will be split across national, regional and local …
Partially accepted
Local government and net zero in England
To improve its collaboration with local authorities on net zero, the main departments that engage with local authorities on net zero (BEIS, MHCLG, DfT and Defra, working with HMT) should: a) establish a clear lead in central government for developing …
Accepted
Reducing carbon emissions from cars
DfT and BEIS, working with OZEV, should set out clearly the carbon milestones they intend to meet on the way to delivering the 2050 target in their plan for the UK car fleet. The projected carbon reductions should link clearly …
Accepted
Achieving government’s long-term environmental goals
We recommend that Defra, working with Cabinet Office and HM Treasury: • monitors annual costs and spend on key environmental initiatives across government, alongside the benefits they achieve, as part of developing performance reporting against the Plan.
Accepted
Achieving government’s long-term environmental goals
We recommend that Defra, working with Cabinet Office and HM Treasury: • develops a strategy for ensuring that the right skills and resources are available to meet government’s environmental ambitions. This should include: a) a published analysis of how government …
Partially accepted
Achieving government’s long-term environmental goals
• develops a delivery plan for how the planned outcomes are to be achieved. This should set out the firm and funded actions that government has planned, and explicitly state whether government expects these are likely to be sufficient to …
Accepted
Achieving government’s long-term environmental goals
We recommend that government: • clarifies its environmental ambitions so that by the time it puts forward new legislative targets (in October 2022), these are part of a coherent suite of objectives that set specific and measurable ambitions for medium-term …
Accepted
Water supply and demand management
h) review the business and resource management planning processes to ensure the need for a long-term strategy and targets does not cause delays to potential improvements in water companies’ performance.
Accepted
Water supply and demand management
f) provide a stronger steer to Ofwat and the water companies on the expected levels of investment by water companies, informed by better and more consistent evidence on customers’ willingness to pay, commissioning new research, if necessary.
Partially accepted
Water supply and demand management
e) identify all opportunities to influence and work with other government departments to reduce usage by hospitals, schools and other large public sector users, and influence policies that have an impact on water consumption and long-term resilience; and
Accepted
Water supply and demand management
d) review the business retail market to identify barriers to achieving improvements in water efficiency and how to overcome them;
Accepted
Water supply and demand management
c) consider ways of promoting the need for water efficiency more coherently to ensure there is a coordinated and credible message, and develop plans to monitor and evaluate the impact of existing and new awareness-raising activities;
Accepted
Water supply and demand management
b) fulfil its commitment to set a target for water companies for average personal water consumption;
Accepted
Water supply and demand management
Defra should build on the steps it is already taking through the national framework, and: a) provide guidance for water companies and facilitate sharing of information between them to support them in improving long-term resilience;
Accepted
Investigation into how government is addressing antimicrobial resistance
The government should consider what the UK?s aquatic environment is currently contributing to rising AMR, particularly wastewater treatment and spills, and, as a result, whether new commitments or targets are needed in this area.
Accepted
The government’s support for biomass
In taking forward its Biomass Strategy, DESNZ should: review annually its expectation of the contribution that BECCS will make to generating negative emissions and prepare in advance alternative options for achieving net zero in the event that BECCS?s contribution is …
Accepted
The government’s support for biomass
In taking forward its Biomass Strategy, DESNZ should: commission and then publish an assessment of the potential environmental impact of transitional support to large scale biomass generation beyond 2027, including clarification of how long it expects these subsidies to continue …
Accepted
The government’s support for biomass
In taking forward its Biomass Strategy, DESNZ should: evaluate whether its current arrangements provide adequate assurance that generators are complying with sustainability criteria on the Renewables Obligation and Contracts for Difference schemes. This should include a detailed review of accreditation …
Accepted
The government’s support for biomass
In taking forward its Biomass Strategy, DESNZ should: as part of its commitment to consider whether a requirement that 100% of woody biomass is sustainable against its land criteria, define its risk appetite for non-compliance against this increased threshold and …
Accepted
Resilience to flooding
EA should: g before planning starts for the next capital programme, develop a set of key long-term milestones and dates which chart the course towards becoming a nation resilient to flooding by 2100. This should look to cover a timetable …
Partially accepted
Resilience to flooding
Defra and EA together should, as part of planning for the next capital programme: c consider how they expect the profile of projects to change in size and nature and implement any partnership funding policy, rule or process changes that …
Accepted
Active Travel in England
DfT should: (a) review its cycling and walking objectives for 2025 and beyond to inform setting appropriate targets for Active Travel England:
Accepted
Decarbonising the power sector
f) establish arrangements to understand and respond to system-wide risks and opportunities, to ensure its plan is resilient to setbacks, disruption and future uncertainty. This will involve having an overview of the cumulative demands on, for example, workforce, materials and …
Accepted
Decarbonising the power sector
e) establish a set of clear measures of overall progress, and some interim milestones towards power sector decarbonisation. It should report progress against these measures and milestones annually to Parliament, along with an explanation as to how this performance information …
Partially accepted
Decarbonising the power sector
In developing arrangements to oversee progress against its plan, DESNZ should: d) review the capability of its modelling to refine and update the most cost-effective system-wide approach to achieving net zero, including power sector decarbonisation. It should consider, for example, …
Accepted
Decarbonising the power sector
c) ensure it has understood the main links between different aspects of decarbonisation and sets out in advance how these will be managed. This should include how to determine the best sequencing of changes and investment, such as ensuring how …
Accepted
Decarbonising the power sector
b) within 12 months, review plans for achieving its ambitions for offshore wind and nuclear power expansion. Where DESNZ determines that these ambitions are unattainable it should develop alternative options that enable it to achieve its broader power sector ambitions, …
Accepted
IMB individual recommendations(3)
Whatton (2022)
Will the Prison Service advise when the energy-saving solar panels will be installed at HMP Whatton?
HMPPS
In Progress
Erlestoke (2021)
Will funds be put in place to achieve this goal?
HMPPS
Bure (2022)
Will HMPPS make funding available within the next financial year to enable work to start?
HMPPS
Independent reviews(50)
Cunliffe Water Commission — Rec 55
Recommendation 55: The regulators in England and Wales should consider how best to promote the use of environmental bonds.
Other
Cunliffe Water Commission — Rec 9
Recommendation 9: The UK and Welsh governments should update and reform the UWWTR 1994 to deliver better outcomes and a more sustainable approach to drainage and wastewater management. This should involve reporting on whether an Extended Producer Responsibility scheme is needed for the water sector to fund necessary improvements.
Other
Corry Defra Regulation Review — Rec 25
Following the agricultural transition, Defra needs to set out publicly how rural grants and payments can be used by farmers and landowners, in combination with green finance, to balance food production and nature outcomes. The production of Defra's 25-year farming roadmap will be an opportunity to do this. This should …
Other
Corry Defra Regulation Review — Rec 22
Given the UK's financial and scientific expertise, Government should publish a call for evidence on further opportunities to increase private investment into nature from economic sectors who impact upon or benefit from our shared natural capital, for example through the role nature-based solutions can play as economic infrastructure.
Other
Corry Defra Regulation Review — Rec 21
Defra should explore launching a Nature Market Accelerator to bring much needed coherence to nature markets and accelerate investment. This should be small, focussed and industry funded to provide independent assurance on the governance and standardised processes needed to guide and protect the interests of suppliers of nature-based projects; investors …
Other
Corry Defra Regulation Review — Rec 9
Review the funding streams connected to place-based delivery, for example biodiversity net gain, to ensure they can be used as flexibly as possible to help local authorities and regulators deliver the Government's Environmental Improvement Plan and Local Nature Recovery Strategy ambitions.
Other
Corry Defra Regulation Review — Rec 8
Use LNRS across the 48 strategy areas as a basis for building and embedding 'local Environmental Improvement Plans (EIPs)' which cover all elements of the national EIP, which Combined Authorities can work with local partners to deliver. This consolidation of various local plans and strategies is a major task which …
Other
Corry Defra Regulation Review — Rec 7
Ensure regulators are devoting the right balance of time and resourcing to driving outcomes including growth. Defra should review this as part of the Spending Review settlement and ensure that operating models (a) are maximised to attract private sector investment; (b) allow regulators to recover the full cost of services, …
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 39
The Government should urgently put in place a fully funded national capability for flood rescue with Fire and Rescue Authorities playing a leading role, underpinned as necessary by a statutory duty.
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 24
The Government should develop a scheme which allows and encourages local communities to invest in flood risk management measures.
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 23
The Government should commit to a strategic long-term approach to its investment in flood risk management, planning up to 25 years ahead.
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 22
As part of the forthcoming and subsequent water industry pricing reviews, Ofwat should give appropriate priority to proposals for investment in the existing sewerage network to deal with increasing flood risk.
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 12
All local authorities should extend eligibility for home improvement grants and loans to include flood resistance and resilience products for properties in high flood-risk areas.
Other
Helm Energy Review — Rec 8
After all existing commitments in respect of FiTs and low-carbon CfDs have been fully honoured, and in the transition to a proper, uniform carbon price and an EFP auction, they should be split into three parts: the construction and project-development phase; the operation of the plant; and decommissioning. The first …
Other
Glover Landscapes Review — Rec 27
Proposal 27: A new financial model – more money, more secure, more enterprising A new approach to financing is needed. Central government funding should continue, and be both extended and secured across a five-year period. This is justified to redress historical under-funding, to enable landscapes to deliver the new responsibilities …
Other
Glover Landscapes Review — Rec 5
Proposal 5: A central place for national landscapes in new Environmental Land Management Schemes We believe the future ELMS should recognise the special qualities of national landscapes. This is not a review into farming policy. Plans for ELMS will apply to the country as a whole, not just to national …
Other
Lawton Nature Review — Rec 20
Recommendation 20. Government should consider extending tax incentives to encourage landowners to make long-term commitments to the creation of new wildlife habitats that benefit ecological networks.
Other
Lawton Nature Review — Rec 17
Recommendation 17. The government should promote economic approaches that will favour conservation management by stimulating the creation of new markets and payment for ecosystem services, to ensure that the values of a wider range of ecosystem services are taken into account in decisions that affect the management and use of …
Other
Lawton Nature Review — Rec 16
Recommendation 16. A new type of Environmental Stewardship scheme is needed, particularly to help buffer sites and establish stepping stones and ecological corridors. This should be simple to administer, be available in key areas, and provide support for high cost but relatively simple management measures.
Other
Lawton Nature Review — Rec 15
Recommendation 15. The Higher Level Scheme of Environmental Stewardship must be retained and properly resourced as the single most important tool for maintaining and expanding the most significant areas of priority habitat and populations of priority species. Consideration should be given to improving the quality of advice and putting longer …
Other
Building Better Building Beautiful Commission — Rec 32
plant urban orchards – one fruit tree per house. In addition to the wider benefits set out above, there is a need to reconnect children with nature and with the sources of their food. The government should: • Support a programme of urban orchards within our towns and cities; • …
Building Safety
Building Better Building Beautiful Commission — Rec 31
plant two million new street trees. The government working with city mayors and local government should set a target to plant two million street trees and provide the funding for their planting and maintenance. Achieving this will not just be a matter of top-down targets and central funding – though …
Building Safety
Building Better Building Beautiful Commission — Rec 30
ask for more access to greenery. The NPPF should be updated to place a greater focus on access to nature and green spaces – both existing and new – for all new and remodelled developments. This must not be negotiated away on ‘viability grounds.’ Policies such as those set out …
Building Safety
Building Better Building Beautiful Commission — Rec 29
clean urban air. As the data on poor air quality in our towns and cities becomes clearer and as the effect this has on people’s health becomes better understood, there is a seismic shift in attitudes taking place. We are encouraged by the recent Environment Bill and encourage the government …
Building Safety
Dimbleby National Food Strategy — Rec 8
Guarantee the budget for agricultural payments until at least 2029 to help farmers transition to more sustainable land use.
Health & Social Care
Stern Review — Rec Ch27-6
The challenge now is to broaden and deepen participation across all the relevant dimensions of action – including co-operation to create carbon prices and markets, to accelerate innovation and deployment of low-carbon technologies, to reverse emissions from land-use change and to help poor countries adapt to the worst impacts of …
Other
Stern Review — Rec Ch27-5
Countries should agree a broad set of mutual responsibilities to contribute to the overall goal of reducing the risks of climate change. These responsibilities should take account of costs and the ability to bear them, as well as starting points, prospects for growth and past histories.
Other
Stern Review — Rec Ch27-3
Without a clear perspective on the long-term goals for stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, it is unlikely that action will be sufficient to meet the objective.
Other
Stern Review — Rec Policy-5
Adaptation: The poorest countries are most vulnerable to climate change. It is essential that climate change be fully integrated into development policy, and that rich countries honour their pledges to increase support through overseas development assistance. International funding should also support improved regional information on climate change impacts, and research …
Other
Stern Review — Rec Policy-4
Action to reduce deforestation: The loss of natural forests around the world contributes more to global emissions each year than the transport sector. Curbing deforestation is a highly cost-effective way to reduce emissions; large-scale international pilot programmes to explore the best ways to do this could get underway very quickly.
Other
Stern Review — Rec Policy-3
Technology cooperation: Informal co-ordination as well as formal agreements can boost the effectiveness of investments in innovation around the world. Globally, support for energy R&D should at least double, and support for the deployment of new low-carbon technologies should increase up to five-fold. International co-operation on product standards is a …
Other
Stern Review — Rec Policy-1
Climate change is the greatest market failure the world has ever seen, and it interacts with other market imperfections. Three elements of policy are required for an effective global response. The first is the pricing of carbon, implemented through tax, trading or regulation. The second is policy to support innovation …
Other
Barker Housing Supply Review — Rec 25
Government should consider the extension of the contaminated land tax credit and grant scheme to land that has lain derelict for a certain period of time. This should be done on the basis that extra public money levered into the market through such a scheme would encourage genuine new investment …
Other
Skidmore Review — Rec 121
By Autumn 2023, Government should review how to incentivise greater R&D for net zero, including considering the role of clarity on research priorities and government support, tax credits, greater ring-fencing of R&D spend, and enabling regulations.
Other
Skidmore Review — Rec 118
Government should extend the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to 2028 and consider whether grant levels should be increased in light of inflationary pressures, before being scaled down over time. This should happen alongside efforts to increase awareness of government support. Support for those unable to afford the upfront costs associated with …
Other
Skidmore Review — Rec 116
Government should deliver the Heat Pump Investment Accelerator to catalyse private investment for at least two major heat pump factories in the UK.
Other
Skidmore Review — Rec 115
Government should include an Energy Efficiency Taskforce workstream on green finance products to report by end of 2023. This should help to support those in low EPC rated properties to carry out green home upgrades and should identify opportunities to crowd-in private finance, alongside public funding.
Other
Skidmore Review — Rec 114
Government should consider options to support homes to include roof solar panels installation as part of its retrofit provision to support homes reaching the Net Zero Homes Standard.
Other
Skidmore Review — Rec 113
Government should provide certainty by 2024 on the new and replacement gas boiler phase out date to drive industry and investor confidence. The Review recommends bringing the proposed date of 2035 forward and legislating for 2033. Government should set a legislative target for gas free homes and appliances by 2033, …
Other
Skidmore Review — Rec 112
Government should mandate that EPCs are updated on a regular basis, using a new metric which better reflects current relative costs of heat pump and accounts for wider benefits from low-carbon heating systems. Under this new metric, EPC ratings could become a more holistic Net Zero Performance Certificate (NZPC), giving …
Other
Skidmore Review — Rec 111
Government should support establishing retrofit hubs by 2025 to bridge the gap between households and suppliers. These could enable installers to seek training and impartial advice and could connect households to suitable installers.
Other
Skidmore Review — Rec 110
Government should expand its energy efficiency advice service in 2023, ensuring that it helps consumers to access qualified traders and providers in local areas.
Other
Skidmore Review — Rec 109
Government should ensure the right policies are in place to achieve the UK's demand reduction targets, building on the 2022 Autumn Statement announcement, with interim targets and milestones to hit this goal. Noting the UK's 2050 net zero ambitions the government should publish clear analysis of which mix of policy …
Other
Skidmore Review — Rec 108
Government should bring forward all consultations and work to mandate the Future Homes Standards by 2025 to prevent further delays by ensuring the standard applies to all developments. This should include a consultation on mandating new homes to be built with solar and deliver the Net Zero Homes Standard, ensuring …
Other
Skidmore Review — Rec 107
Government should regulate through a suite of measures to create the conditions for sustained growth of new markets for low-carbon heat, so that at least 600,000 heat pumps are installed each year by 2028, and up to 1.9 million by 2033. The Government should implement the off- gas grid regulations …
Other
Skidmore Review — Rec 106
Government to equalise VAT on public and private electric vehicle charging in 2024.
Other
Skidmore Review — Rec 105
Government should amend the regulatory framework to incentivise transport providers to increase demand and improve services, and that it works with them on this vision, by 2024.
Other
Skidmore Review — Rec 104
Government should develop the distributional analysis of net zero policies started by the Review in 2023.
Other
Skidmore Review — Rec 103
Government to pursue ecolabelling to help consumers make more informed purchasing decisions, by 2025.
Other
Skidmore Review — Rec 102
Government to run a competition to create a Carbon Calculator to inform consumers of the carbon intensity of different choices, in 2023.
Other
PHSO casework decisions(11)
P-001173 — Environment Agency
Mr and Mrs I complained the Environment Agency took too long to stop pollution from their neighbour's sewage, failed to respond appropriately, and their land suffered damage.
UK Government
Not Upheld
Oct 2021
P-001227 — Environment Agency
Mrs A complained the Environment Agency insufficiently monitored a nearby landfill site since 2018. She alleged persistent odours and gases from the site are causing her illness and affecting her quality of life.
UK Government
Not Upheld
Dec 2021
P-001331 — Planning Inspectorate
Mrs D complained a Planning Inspector failed to adequately consider ecological impact in a decision, and PINS's complaint response also disregarded this information.
UK Government
Mar 2022
P-003318 — Environment Agency
Mrs W complained the Environment Agency failed to take regulatory action against a composting facility, which she alleged caused excessive flies and odour, leading to distress.
UK Government
Feb 2025
P-003629 — Environment Agency
Mr O complained the Environment Agency failed to regulate a nearby scrap yard, allowing excessive noise/vibration, processing volumes above permit, and oil pollution.
UK Government
Jun 2025
P-001566 — Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
BEIS gave Mr S only four days to find a new installer for home improvements to remain eligible for the Green Homes Grant, refusing an extension and causing stress and anxiety.
UK Government
Oct 2022
P-001569 — Environment Agency
The Environment Agency has not taken sufficient action to stop a source of water contamination from entering Mr U's land, preventing him from grazing his sheep.
UK Government
Oct 2022
P-002029 — Office of Gas and Electricity Markets
Ofgem wrongly demanded repayment of DRHI payments, alleging her fuel wasn't on the approved list, despite her belief its system is flawed.
UK Government
Jun 2023
P-003290 — Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem)
Mr A complained Ofgem delayed changing its decision to stop his Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive payments, causing him financial losses.
UK Government
Jan 2025
P-003439 — Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem)
Mrs E complained Ofgem incorrectly revoked her Domestic RHI accreditation, leading to significant financial loss and distress, arguing they misunderstood facts and failed to use discretion.
UK Government
Mar 2025
P-004349 — Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem)
Ofgem removed Mr X from a renewable heat scheme and demanded repayment due to an installer's error with duplicate certificates, causing distress.
UK Government
Nov 2025
LGO / SPSO decisions(960)
PSOW-202101229 — Caerphilly County Borough Council
Mrs A complained about the process followed by Caerphilly Council in its consideration of her family’s application for adaptations to their property. Mrs A complained that the family had been treated unfairly. The Ombudsman decided that the Council failed to evidence a full assessment of the adaptations and costs. There …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Local Government
Aug 2021
25-027-159 — London Borough of Waltham Forest
on the lessons that can be learnt from our complaints about end of life care given in care homes and in the home.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Feb 2026
25-013-318 — Havant Borough Council
on the lessons that can be learnt from our complaints about end of life care given in care homes and in the home.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Feb 2026
PSOW-202103771 — Newport City Council
Ms A complained that the Council had failed to investigate a noise nuisance complaint in accordance with its obligations under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The Ombudsman identified issues with the handling of Ms A’s complaint and the Council’s subsequent formal complaint responses. She decided to settle the complaint. She …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Health
Apr 2022
PSOW-202503885 — Flintshire County Council
Mrs B complained that Flintshire County Council had failed to respond to the complaint she made to it in March 2025. The Ombudsman found that there had been a delay in the Council responding to Mrs B’s complaint and a failure to keep her updated during the delay. The Ombudsman …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Health
Aug 2025
21-005-306 — North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: Mr B complained that the Council failed to take action in relation to his neighbour’s wood burner which was emitting smoke and fumes at first-floor level affecting his enjoyment of his property and garden. The Ombudsman found the Council properly investigated Mr B’s concerns. It failed to keep Mr …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Upheld
Mar 2022
21-017-882 — Wokingham Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council making a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on trees belonging to a third party, which later damaged the complainant’s property. This is because the actions of the Council did not cause an injustice to the complainant, and liability for the damage …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Apr 2022
22-001-168 — Norfolk County Council
Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s delay in producing the flood investigation report covering the flooding of his road and land around it. We will not investigate the complaint because we are unlikely to find evidence of fault by the Council.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
May 2022
22-003-170 — South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s response to a complaint about light pollution from a neighbouring property. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Jun 2022
22-004-832 — Middlesbrough Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council planting a micro-forest near the complainant’s home. This is because there is insufficient evidence of injustice.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Aug 2022
22-005-305 — Middlesbrough Borough Council
Summary: Mr X complains the Council was wrong to approve housing which allowed for sewage to be dealt with via a package treatment plant rather than connection to the main sewer. We will not investigate the complaint because it is a late complaint and because ongoing pollution of a beck …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Aug 2022
22-006-584 — Wokingham Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council failing to regularly maintain the drainage structures near Mr X’s property. This is because an investigation would not lead to a different outcome and we cannot achieve the outcome Mr X wants.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Sep 2022
22-006-557 — Hampshire County Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of matters relating to the classification of a watercourse. This is because an investigation by the Ombudsman cannot determine who owns or is responsible for the watercourse.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Sep 2022
21-012-123 — Uttlesford District Council
Summary: Mrs X complained about noise from an electricity substation opposite her home. She said the Council accepts there is noise nuisance but cannot act. Mrs X complained the Council did not create a suitable planning condition to mitigate the noise, did not consult UK Power Network, and did not …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Upheld
Sep 2022
22-007-196 — Liverpool City Council
Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint the Council has refused to remove or prune a tree which is harming the amenity of her home. Investigation is not likely to lead to the outcome Ms X wants. It is reasonable for Ms X to use her legal rights and …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Sep 2022
21-017-748 — Mansfield District Council
Summary: Mr D complains the Council has not cut back trees overhanging his home. The Council accepts it is at fault and will carry out a new survey of the trees. The Ombudsman has completed the investigation and upheld the complaint.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Upheld
Sep 2022
22-007-230 — City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to refuse an application for a grant under the Clean Air Zone Scheme. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Sep 2022
22-008-168 — Wychavon District Council
The complainant, I shall call Miss X, says the Council is failing to enforce the Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) for a development site opposite her home.
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Oct 2022
22-005-133 — Coventry City Council
Summary: Ms B complains about the Council’s decision to make changes that would increase traffic on her road. She says this will increase pollution and noise and cause flooding. The Ombudsman does not find fault in how the Council reached its decision.
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Not Upheld
Oct 2022
23-014-947 — Mid Suffolk District Council
Summary: X complained about the Council’s failure to protect a hedgerow, part of which was removed causing damage to public visual amenity and the environment. We found fault in the way the Council made its planning decision, and the same fault might happen again. The Council has agreed to review …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Upheld
Jun 2024
24-003-440 — Environment Agency
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about an alleged failure by the Authority to engage with the complainant about ways to improve the accuracy of flood warnings. This is because there is insufficient evidence of the complainant having personally suffered a significant enough injustice to warrant our involvement.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Jul 2024
23-019-535 — Liverpool City Council
Summary: Ms T complained the Council had not taken appropriate action following her complaints that there are rats in her street. We found the Council at fault. The Council has agreed to apologise to Ms T, make a payment in acknowledgement of the injustice caused to her and to implement …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Upheld
Aug 2024
23-020-814 — King's Lynn & West Norfolk Council
Summary: We do not find fault in the Council’s decision to close an investigation into Japanese Knotweed invading Mrs W’s land. Nor do we find it at fault for alerting her to an allegation made she had unlawfully disposed of garden waste on neighbouring land.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Not Upheld
Sep 2024
24-010-186 — Manchester City Council
Summary: Mr X complained the Council inadequately responded to his reports of Japanese knotweed, and it communicated poorly. Mr X said his home is at risk and he feels ignored. He said it caused unnecessary distress, anxiety and mistrust in the Council. We do not find fault.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Not Upheld
Jun 2025
25-004-217 — London Borough of Lewisham
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal to deal with a report of brambles encroaching on Ms X’s property from the grounds of a school. We cannot investigate complaints about the internal management of schools.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Sep 2025
24-021-860 — Vale Of White Horse District Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about artificial light nuisance. Some of the complaint is late, and for the part we could consider there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council to justify us investigating.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Sep 2025
24-010-310 — London Borough of Bromley
Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s decision to make a Tree Preservation Order permanent even after his objections. We found the Council was at fault for not properly considering Mr X's comments. This caused Mr X frustration and uncertainty about the Council’s decision making. We recommended the Council should …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Upheld
Sep 2025
25-008-315 — Maidstone Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council not progressing Mr X’s application for a Tree Preservation Order. This is because the Council has agreed to conduct a new assessment of the trees and this provides a suitable remedy for Mr X.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Upheld
Sep 2025
25-000-045 — North East Lincolnshire Council
Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s handling of its investigation into his reports of a light nuisance. He also complained about how it responded to his complaint about a neighbour’s parked vehicle. We find the Council at fault for failing to serve an abatement notice when it had identified …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Upheld
Oct 2025
23-020-104 — Environment Agency
Summary: Mrs B has complained that the Environment Agency has wrongly asked for an indemnity from her against the risk of harm caused by it cutting weeds. She also complained that it did not respond to her reports of flooding and damage. There is no fault in the Agency’s decisions. …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Upheld
Oct 2024
24-008-747 — West Berkshire Council
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.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Oct 2024
24-011-574 — Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council not agreeing to inform his neighbours that its officers had required him to remove some trees from his land. It was reasonable for Mr X to use his right of appeal at the magistrates’ court against the Council’s decision …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Dec 2024
25-018-558 — Dover District Council
on the lessons that can be learnt from our complaints about end of life care given in care homes and in the home.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Feb 2026
25-013-307 — North Somerset Council
on the lessons that can be learnt from our complaints about end of life care given in care homes and in the home.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Jan 2026
25-013-238 — London Borough of Hackney
on the lessons that can be learnt from our complaints about end of life care given in care homes and in the home.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Jan 2026
25-011-823 — Liverpool City Council
on the lessons that can be learnt from our complaints about end of life care given in care homes and in the home.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Jan 2026
PSOW-202100872 — Natural Resources Wales
Mr X complained that Natural Resources Wales (“NRW”) had not responded to the complaint he made to it in 2019 regarding inadequate dog control signs and access by motor vehicles in forest areas near Mr X. The Health Board agreed to undertake the following in settlement of Mr X’s complaint: …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Health
Jun 2021
PSOW-202305628 — Wrexham County Borough Council
Mr A complained that Wrexham County Borough Council had failed to provide him with a new waste bin and did not fully address his concerns in its complaint response. The Ombudsman decided that the Council’s response did not accurately reflect the concerns that Mr A had raised, and this caused …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Health
Oct 2023
PSOW-202307935 — Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
Mr C complained that Rhondda Cynon Taff County Council failed to repair his blocked gully and did not issue a response to his complaint. The Ombudsman found that whilst the Council had logged service requests it failed to log Mr C’s concerns as a complaint. She said that this caused …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Health
Jan 2024
PSOW-202404570 — Denbighshire County Council
Mr P complained that Denbighshire County Council failed to issue a response to his complaint which he made to it about the introduction of a new waste collection system. The Ombudsman found that the Council had responded to Mr P’s complaint in July. However, the Council’s response was not substantive, …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Health
Oct 2024
PSOW-202505157 — Vale of Glamorgan Council
Mrs Q complained that the Vale of Glamorgan Council failed to respond to her complaint concerning its refusal to provide purple waste bags. The Ombudsman found that the Council logged Mrs Q’s complaint as a service request and when attempts to contact her by telephone were unsuccessful, it failed to …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Health
Nov 2025
PSOW-202507465 — Vale of Glamorgan Council
Mr X complained that Vale of Glamorgan Council refused to accept his complaint regarding his concerns about water quality. The Ombudsman found that the Council had refused to accept Mr B’s complaint. She said that this caused frustration and uncertainty to Mr B. She decided to settle the complaint without …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Health
Jan 2026
PSOW-202507608 — Cardiff Council
Miss A complained about waste management by Cardiff Council. She complained that the Council had consistently failed to collect her waste. Miss A also complained that the explanation offered by the Council, that parked vehicles obstruct access for the refuse lorry, failed to recognise that traffic management and enforcement of …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Local Government
Jan 2026
PSOW-202508149 — Cardiff Council
Mr F complained that Cardiff Council improperly issued him a warning notice for “illegal dumping” of waste outside his property, and that the warning and the Council’s response to his complaint contained incorrect information regarding his waste collection day. Mr F also complained about a lack of clarity around the …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Local Government
Jan 2026
21-000-196 — Shropshire Council
Summary: Mr C complained about the Council’s response to reports of breaches of planning control at a residential development site. Mr C says there has been a harmful impact on residents’ health, safety and amenity. We have found fault but consider the agreed action of an apology and review of …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Upheld
Jan 2022
20-014-043 — Isle of Wight Council
Summary: Ms B complained about the way in which the Council had dealt with concerns she raised about development in and adjacent to protected areas in her local area. We found the Council failed to identify that the site was in a protected area and gave incorrect advice to the …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Upheld
Jan 2022
21-002-979 — Lancashire County Council
Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to take action to enforce a planning condition. We have not found fault with the Council.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Not Upheld
Feb 2022
20-011-499 — Sheffield City Council
Summary: Mr D complained the Council has failed to take appropriate action when he raised concerns about air and noise pollution from idling buses near to where he lives. We find the Council was at fault as it failed to consider its duties under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Upheld
Mar 2022
21-016-178 — Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s decision not to seek TPO consent for the removal of trees from a development site close to his home. We will not investigate the complaint because Mr X has already taken court action in relation to the issue and so the complaint falls …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Mar 2022
21-002-231 — Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: Ms X complained the Council decided to approve a planning application behind her property without fully considering the impact of traffic, flooding and building on green belt land. Ms X also complained the Council failed to consult residents in a fair and impartial manner. The Ombudsman does not find …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Not Upheld
Mar 2022