Issue - meetings

This report informs the Committee of the findings of a Local Government Ombudsman investigation into a complaint about an application for a vehicle crossover. It outlines the complaint, details the findings by the Ombudsman and notes how the Council has responded to those findings, including the recommendation that the Council adopts a revised vehicle crossover policy.

(i)        That the recommendations by the Local Government Ombudsman as a result of an investigation into a complaint against The London Borough of Brent in respect of a vehicle crossover application be noted.

(ii)       That the revised Vehicle Crossover Policy presented in Appendix A, along with the revised Guidance Notes for Footway Crossovers in Appendix B to the report be adopted.

The report informed the Committee of the findings of a Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) investigation into a complaint about an application for a vehicle crossover. It also outlined the complaint, detailed the findings by the Ombudsman and how the Council had responded to those findings, including the recommendation to adopt a revised vehicle crossover policy.

Paul Chandler, Head of Transportation set out the background to the complaint and the findings of the LGO.  He continued that the recommendations made by the LGO, for a review of Domestic Vehicle Footway Crossover Policy; to set aside the decision for refusal and; to provide compensation of £300 to the complainant to recognise the injustice, had been implemented. He went on to note that the crossover policy had been amended based on the LGO report to clearly state that discretion can and would be used in exceptional circumstances. The specific application would also be reconsidered when it was re-issued.

RESOLVED:

(i)        that the recommendations by the Local Government Ombudsman as a result of an investigation into a complaint against The London Borough of Brent in respect of a vehicle crossover application be noted;

(ii)       that the revised Vehicle Crossover Policy presented in Appendix A, along with the revised Guidance Notes for Footway Crossovers in Appendix B to the report from the Head of Transportation be adopted.