Emails from residents unanswered, six-month delays in dealing with a formal complaint, and a planning department that ignored a court order. Births, deaths, marriages and citizenship, Support is available for you or someone you're worried about, contact our Single Point of Contact (SPOC) team, Report and request removal of offensive graffiti, If you are a Housing Association tenant, please report the issues to your Housing Association, If you are a Council tenant or leaseholder please contact your Tenancy Officer or call 0208 726 6000. The problem is we will never get rid of the shit people in the council, because no other borough will recruit from such base material. If the noise continues and we can see from your diary that it is unreasonable and therefore could constitute a noise nuisance we will serve an informal notice on the alleged offender. Croydon Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association. I am so glad I dont work for Croydon Planning Department. The implication is that there are too many complaints for the current management to handle, so wed better get some more 50k a year (and the rest) managers to fob people off. Heather Cheesbrough, the six-figure salaried council exec in charge of the planning department, recently lectured elected councillors, telling them that, All the planning officers in the team have the highest personal integrity and professionalism.. On December 3, 2018, a decision was made by Lincolnshire County Council to reduce the speed on High Road and Low Road from 40mph to 30mph. Croydon Councils antisocial behaviour officers have been busy helping residents in their battle against criminal and offensive neighbours, successfully securing a number of Premises Closure Orders (PCOs). Overall the workplace culture is one of progression and collaborative . You can complain if you are unhappy about how a council service has been delivered or if the council have failed to deliver a service. Alberto Bocelli Architect, For more information, please see our Corporate Complaints Policy (PDF, 234.68 KB). The report said that a planning permission would not define the property boundaries. They made the council aware of the dispute over land ownership and the 2018 court judgement. as far as I could ascertain from our neighbours, plastics/etc and food were collected from . Heather Cheesbrough was in charge when Planning Policy SPD2 was written. But at least shes no longer claiming to be a chartered landscape architect so thats nice. 535 Following. Support is available for you or someone you're worried about. made staffing cuts because of budgetary constraints. Developers break the law with impunity as demonstrated time and time again. Got away with it. In charge: Alison Butler, the cabinet member for housing until Oct 2020. But it said this was a civil issue and as such not a relevant planning consideration. Talk to your local police about ongoing crime and anti-social behaviour issues: Contact your police safer neighbourhoods team, NEW Help improve this site by Local groceries, essential shops, parks and other amenities nearby. Search Gumtree.com; Post ad ; Menu Login/Register Enter a location to see results close by . Perhaps the members of the councils planning committee were still in a state of shock. The council will expect you to discuss the issue and negotiate with your neighbour first. Croydon Council. If you think your neighbour's making trouble because you're transgender or because of your disability, race, religion or sexuality, it could be a hate . Try to solve the problem informally by talking to them. If it is longer the Council may ask customers to explain why they could not complain sooner. On the morning of July 7, Mr Newlands called again to tell me the road had been blocked for more than an hour, without warning or signage, while demolition machinery was delivered to site. By this stage in the Ombudsmans report, the author is clearly warming to the theme of the mind-numbingly, staggering incompetence of the Croydon Council planners. The proposal includes the unacceptable felling of eight individual trees and five groups of trees as well as substantial areas of mature hedging, Hale told the committee. If talking hasn't resolved the issue, you can make a complaint to your local council or the police. It will add to the already overloaded drainage and sewer systems and should be refused.. Residents of the block claim that Croydon Council had been informed of the issues but had not acted. Image: Cleaner Croydon, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. The law is clear that applicants must produce certification to show whether they are building on land they own or which is in third party ownership. Utter incompetence and no one ever held to account. If you're making a complaint about council housing, find out more about the Housing Ombudsman Complaint Handling Code. (19%) The aim of the charity is to support local residents who are concerned about crime such as burglary, scams and anti social behaviour. The types of neighbourly behaviour which seem to generate the most complaints, and which are also behind most of the decisions to move house are: aggressive behaviour (60%) Noise Pollution. Bonfires generate around 30,000 nuisance complaints to local authorities each year. However, Planning Departments have seen some of the biggest budget cuts of any Council Departments (although of course I dont know if this is the case at Croydon), so maybe its not a suprise that things are starting to fall apart at the seams. On the allegation of racism in the handling of Leroy's complaint, Croydon Council did not provide a response. How Do Squirrel Monkeys Protect Themselves, The Ombudsman says that there were two key points that the council ought to have considered. But lawyers who get fees from boundary disputes will oppose this, Having reliable and continuously updated INTERNAL plans of all properties should also be an additional (but separate) part of fire safety improvement post Grenfell. Perhaps we can apply for planning permission to excavate one? Which is what makes this ruling, published yesterday, all the more extraordinary in its criticism of the council planners incompetence and lack of professionalism. The Council should properly assess whether this piece of intensification would in fact be in any way sustainable, when considered honestly against the adopted development plan read as a whole., Townsends decision notice confirms that, This planning permission is subject to a Section 106 Agreement under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.. The application was retrospective, and the council had photographs from May 2019 that showed the strutural stanchions on Mr X and Mr Ys land. The South Norwood protesters marched in support of the residents of Regina Road, a Croydon Council-owned block of flats that shocked when an ITV News expose aired recently. In May 2019 and all points after that, it was clear at least some of the garage structure was on land outside Ms Zs ownership., The council should have gone further, the Ombudsman says. You can help us keep the borough looking clean and tidy by reporting untidy or eyesore gardens. why dont the council just get a decent building firm/plumbers round to fix the place? 3 1 March 2021. On April 19 this year, and with the benefit of legal advice, I submitted a formal complaint to the council on behalf of the Newlands. Is there a basement at the Farfield Halls which could be converted to a dungeon? Three clicks and you're done. How we deal with corporate complaints. The Ombudsman says that the council has accepted its findings, and will pay Mr X 750 in recognition of his distress, time and trouble, and pay 500 to Mr Y, with apologies to both. I have used the service on many occasions and found it very useful with prompt response to most complaints. Ms Z partially removed two of the three stanchions and left the third one standing complete. Ms Z appealed the court judgement, and lost. It is established case law that local planning authorities cannot withdraw and re-issue decision notices to correct such errors. Woman completes National Trust scone-eating project. The other key Legislation is the Party Wall Act , affecting construction on and near boundaries. However, I cannot see that a lot of what they are accused of here is entirely within their control, and they do not appear to be significantly worse than many other Planning Departments (although admittedly may be a bit too relaxed regarding over-development). Barnstaple To London Train, The My Croydon app has a decibel meter that measures noise and informs users whether it is loud enough to be classed as a nuisance. tenancy document that obliges the resident to behave in a way that is not antisocial or causes a nuisance to your neighbours. 16 hours ago 16h Call 999 if the crime is still happening or 101 to report a crime later. Ministers have sent in a taskforce to oversee Croydon council after an audit report revealed the Labour-run authority is on the verge of bankruptcy following a . Mobile Homes For Sale Lycoming County, Pa, how soon after gallbladder surgery can i get a tattoo, How Do Squirrel Monkeys Protect Themselves, Mobile Homes For Sale Lycoming County, Pa. We are committed to making our website accessible to all visitors. . I Love Croydon Reviews 12 . This section has information about making a complaint about neighbourhood noise. How things have been allowed to get so bad is beyond belief. If your neighbours complain to the Council, you may find the Environmental Protection department writing to you asking you to take action to avoid causing a nuisance. It would not have taken much to point out to Ms Z or her agent the structure under construction was already on land outside the property boundary.. If it's an incident that has already happened and doesn't need an immediate response, call the national Police non-emergency number, 101. I note that at no point in the application did Ms Z present a plan showing the footprint of the garage in relation to the property boundaries or surrounding land. On July 3, I was phoned by Mr Newlands, who told me that all the trees on the site were being cut down. Often this solves the problem. A brand new Croydon library could be sold off before it's even been used; Read More Related Articles. Some of her neighbours had been lodging similar complaints to the councils housing department and Axis for four years. Millions of HRA money had been earmarked to buy up Brick by Brick flats when the councils failing housing company needed a cashflow boost. He says that the smell and the cold he encountered in that Croydon council flat have stuck with him as well as knowing that repairs teams had been round and she had called the council over and over again. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. A body that represents council tenants. It was dated February 22 2021, three months after the committee meeting. As far as I can see, Ive received nothing back so Ill take that as a No then. Croydon council has declared effective bankruptcy for the third time in two years, saying it faces an "existential question" after collapsing under the weight of a "toxic debt burden . But this latest ruling from the Local Government Ombudsman effectively declares the planners to be utter buffoons. Night hours. How to make a complaint. By this stage in the Ombudsmans report, the author is clearly warming to the theme of the mind-numbingly, staggering incompetence of the Croydon Council planners. This was complicated by the Land Registry being set up in 1862 on the basis that registered plans would be definitive. "Led by an independent external housing specialist, the inquiry will look at what has . COMPLAINT 202011660. Dont include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. As a result of this case, the council has been forced to pay out a modest amount of compensation to the two wronged neighbours, while giving an undertaking to change its official complaints procedures. A Croydon flat where the tenant subjected her neighbours to fighting, knife threats and excessive noise has been shut. There is room for learning and development and training that supports you to do your job. CROYDON IN CRISIS: If 2020 was Croydon Council's year of Negreedy and bankruptcy, 2021 has been the year of leaks, mould and a local authority exposed as incompetent and uncaring about those living in its properties. Read more: Ali accused of cover-up over findings on council flats scandal You can report fly-tipping online or download our Don't Mess with Croydon app to send a photo and location of fly-tipping straight to the relevant team. If you are a tenant or live in a strata scheme you may have other options for . 3 0 Nov ember 2021. However, this week has been very different because in and amongst my usual e-mails, I have received messages from residents raising serious safeguarding issues. STREET parties over the Platinum Jubilee weekend could be shut down if organisers dont have the correct permission. After being exposed, Croydon Council apologised and in May, a damning report from independent consultants found systemic failures and incompetence at the council and its repairs contractor, Axis, saying there was a poor operating culture with a lack of care and respect for tenants. Date of experience: 12 October 2021. The Ombudsmans report says, I have called the complainant Mr X. Complaints can also be submitted in writing or by telephone to: Complaints Resolutions Team. . In May 2018, the council opened a planning enforcement investigation to consider various potential planning breaches committed by Ms Z. If Steve Reed OBE MP and Clive Fraser spent less time trying to strangle democracy in the LLP and more time trying to address these dire housing issues, theyd be doing what they were elected to do. Hide, Send feedback directly to the content team using our website feedback form. (53%) Messy Gardens or property. SPD2 is the document that has caused so much harm in Croydon and continues to do so. A petition was recently set up on the website www.change.org to show support for the continuation of live music at The Jolly Farmers after several complaints from a neighbour. Patrick Butler Social policy editor. There are rules about heights of structures, their maximum height alongside a boundary, the area of land that can be covered with sheds without the need for planning permission, and heights of walls, fences gates etc. The only requirement is that the correct Certificate is completed by the applicant (which may not have been done here), but this is pretty minor. The independent Reports into Croydon council to include the ARK Report are very clear. Most councils have yet to confirm plans, with about a third indicating they may propose a 3% increase. This included the garage under construction to the south of the plot. Heather Cheesbroughs standard response is to convert residents letters, without their agreement, into formal complaints effectively kicking them 5 months down the line. Until it is, it will exponentially grow as the major problem in our borough. If your neighbour is a tenant, you could contact their landlord. A planning investigation has been opened after Croydon Council made a 'series of mistakes'.. By the early hours, rioting Talk to your neighbour. A fair amount of chalk (from those lorry wheels) is also being deposited on the roads so much for any wheelwash facilities ! The hours of service are: Monday to Wednesday. There was understandable disgust and anger, from the Riddlesdown RA members as well as the long-suffering Newlands, that the council had left it so long before introducing this new excuse for the already totally unacceptable and disrespectful delays. It said Mr X could return to court and seek an order permitting him to remove the stanchions and recover the costs of this if Ms Z failed to comply. The council also apologised to a couple who complained to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. Permitted development rights, PART 1 Development within the curtilage of a dwellinghouse Other than essential front line services, Planning is the thing that Croydon Council has let down the people of Croydon the most on and continues unaddressed at a high level in the council. Gumtree. Just another episode in the regular shambles at Fishers Folly. The complaint process. There doesnt seem to be any accountability so how will things change? News stories, speeches, letters and notices, Reports, analysis and official statistics, Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports. While Plymouth City Council is in talks over a council tax increase of 2.99%. Heather Cheesbrough, the six-figure salaried council exec in charge of the planning department, https://www.gov.uk/party-walls-building-works, Love it or List it is coming to Croydon and want you to take part, 37-34: Mayor's 15% Council Tax hike rejected in budget vote, 10-year campaign by locals wins reprieve for Central Hill Estate, Scott and Butler to be snubbed by Town Hall honours system, 'Stand up for the people and get fair funding for Croydon', Say No To 15% Council Tax Hike, Town Hall, Mar 8, Fairfield Halls offers some Easter movie magic for just 2, Council heat network hits customers with 25% price increase, 'You never mentioned 15% tax hike when seeking election', Teachers in unanimous vote to escalate their strike action, undertaking a review of the members enquiry process (even elected councillors struggle to get prompt replies to their questions), having more team managers respond to complaints, implementing a new complaints management system and improving communication with residents over delays in complaint handling. open 9am to 4pm, Monday - Friday. Emails from residents unanswered, six-month delays in dealing with a formal complaint, and a planning department that ignored a court order. News, views and analysis about the people of Croydon, their lives and political times in the diverse and most-populated borough in London. I got quite a waft from the other side of the road as it hit the ground. They can refer you on to environmental health if the problem is serious enough. I always tell people that planning permission does not automatically grant permission to build it is just one piece of the jigsaw. cominbuy clothing reviews 9998219401. Where neighbours borrow tools and sell sofas. Nice move Robert! Camron Smith died after being stabbed inside a residential address in Bracken Avenue, part of the Shrublands Estate in Croydon, on July 1. 3 1 March 2021. If we receive a complaint from you about neighbours playing loud music, we will send a letter to the alleged offender(s) asking them to keep the volume down. Read more: Croydon shamed over dangerous squalor in council flats The councils excuse was that the impact of covid on the councils working practices and due to the council having cut staff. Removed all the trees they were not going to move !!! giving feedback Those of us who deal with Croydons planning service are used to their incompetence but this one reaches a new level. Also the same problems with the complaints process they dont follow their own complaints process. The council respond directly to you with further enquiries or to update you as the rubbish is cleaned up. Shouldnt be a problem. 8 Mint Walk The council generally adopts an escalating approach to noise enforcement and can deal with unreasonable . No care or accountability. Tenants need to know who to contact when things are going wrong when their council isnt delivering services appropriately. But Hey, that sounds like hard work and it would expose to public scrutiny just how useless these two are. The report was finally released at lunchtime today, with council leader Hamida Ali emailing it first to members of the Croydon Labour Party. Croydon Council. The council can also apply to the magistrate's court for a warrant to enter premises and seize equipment that is causing a nuisance. Because, after all, that kind transparency and honesty about dealing with its failures might catch on, and could even lead to the council learning from its mistakes, and who at Fishers Folly would want that? Complaints can also be submitted in writing or by telephone to: Complaints Resolutions Team. There's no charge for making a complaint or sending us feedback. Meanwhile, Ms Cheesbroughs response to the springtime Complaint is now 22 weeks overdue. Before making a complaint to Council first discuss any noise issues with your neighbour, or the person responsible for the noise. Contact the police if your neighbour is breaking the law by being violent or harassing you. The council said the next phase of its Streetspace scheme will launch on 28 September and will use planters and signs to transform four more streets into places to walk, cycle and exercise while maintaining car access for their Also, if you are planning an international move, we can do it. And as the Ombudsman points out, It also says that anyone who knowingly or recklessly issues a false or misleading certificate is guilty of an offence.. CR0 1EA. Examples of nuisances may include noisy animals, loud air-conditioners and interference . Having revoked the decision and before issuing any new decision notice, it would now be expedient for the council to fully reconsider its original decision, before a perfectly good family home is demolished, before more unwelcome and undue stress is caused to neighbours and before more abortive costs are incurred by the applicant. Unimpressed: Croydon Council planners handling of the neighbours boundary dispute saw the Ombudsman being sharply critical. Parties. In the 10 weeks that had gone by, there had been no mention of this requirement. By High hedges, trees and boundaries. Choose the service you want to make a complaint or give us feedback about. Also, with workloads the way they are nationally most Planning Officers simply dont have the time to deal with things as closely as they would like. The complaint was addressed to Townsends boss, Cheesbrough (who is still working at Croydon after her new job in Redbridge had somehow fallen through). The council said the next phase of its Streetspace scheme will launch on 28 September and will use planters and signs to 'transform four more streets into places to walk, cycle and exercise while maintaining car access for their residents'. To help us improve GOV.UK, wed like to know more about your visit today. Class B means of access to a highway. If you feel that these rules are not being adhered to, you are advised to contact the council for guidance/to make a complaint. Whether its unconsciously, there is potentially this culture thats seeped in of we dont need to rush this and thats a really dangerous conclusion to come to. The council has powers to deal with noise that is considered a statutory nuisance. For information, the Newlands letter of July 14 WAS copied to Katherine Kerswell and Sarah Hayward, Shifa Mustafas replacement. By STEVEN DOWNES, The shame that wont go away: the latest edition of Inside Housing magazine, featuring Regina Road and ITV News reporter Dan Hewitt. If we prosecute we will normally apply to the court to have the equipment permanently confiscated. The council failed to reply to any of them. . The council must pay attention to which certificate the applicant provides as it must not entertain an application with incorrect certification. Croydon Council have launched a new smartphone app, that allows users to report noisy neighbours.. Section 65 of the 1990 Town and Country Planning Act requires that a council shall not entertain a planning application that does not meet the certification requirements set out in the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015. It confirmed it had written to the neighbour after the residents initial report of him urinating down the drain and the tenancy team would continue to monitor the area. For any noise emergencies contact 020 8726 6000. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. If you're unhappy with something we've done, please let us know. The council warned the full impact won't be known until strike day but as of Monday, February 27, it has been told 11 of its 63 schools will be shut, 16 partially shut, 16 open, and the .

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