LGO Individual Decisions

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s council tax complaint. We cannot lawfully question the Council’s policy to have a 100% council tax premium on empty properties. Ms X may apply for the property repair or other discount and if refused will have a right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.

Summary: Mrs B complains about the way the Council assessed her for a Disabled Facilities Grant (“DFG”). Mrs B says the occupational therapist (“OT”) did not properly assess her needs and their report contained inaccuracies and inconsistencies. Mrs B says the adaptions requested are necessary for her to safely access her bathroom and kitchen. The Ombudsman finds fault in the way the OT assessment took place.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a data protection breach. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. The Information Commissioner’s Office is better placed to deal with the complainant’s concerns.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about data protection issues. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. The Information Commissioner’s Office is best placed to deal with this complaint.

Summary: Mr X complained the Council delayed completing a reassessment of his daughter Miss Y’s care needs, has not provided enough hours of support and has refused to backdate the reassessment. The Council was at fault for the delay in completing the assessment. This caused Mr X some frustration but did not cause a significant injustice to Miss Y. The Council was also at fault for not carrying out a carer’s assessment of Mr and Mrs X. It has agreed to do so now and to apologise to Mr X for the frustration and uncertainty this caused. There is no evidence of fault in the way the Council assess

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the poor handling of an application for an Education Health and Care Plan. The injustice caused by any fault is not sufficient to warrant investigation.

Summary: We will not investigate Miss B’s complaint that the Council has failed to cut back overgrown vegetation next to her home. This is because Miss B has not suffered a significant injustice which would justify an investigation.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the wrongful use of enforcement agents as we are satisfied with the actions the Council has proposed to remedy the matter.

Summary: There was no fault in the way the Council decided Mrs X’s proposal for a disabled facilities grant for adaptations to the front area of her property.

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of his planning application. This is because his injustice lies in the decision to refuse the application and it would have been reasonable for him to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

Summary: Mr X complained about the quality of care from a Council commissioned care provider and its decision to terminate his adult son’s care package. We ended our investigation as the events happened too long ago and further investigation is unlikely to achieve anything more.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s involvement in the contact arrangements between the complainant and his children. This is because it is reasonable to expect him to take the matter to court.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Mr X’s challenge to the Council’s decision on his council tax reduction claim. He has exercised his right of appeal against the Council’s calculation of his claim to the Valuation Tribunal. We cannot investigate complaints about a Council’s reduction scheme itself as this may only be challenged in the courts.

Summary: A parent complained about the school admission appeal panel’s decision to turn down her appeal concerning a school place for her son. But we will not investigate this matter as there is not enough evidence of fault by the panel.

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to provide her with suitable temporary accommodation when a housing association started possession proceedings on her secure tenancy home. She further complained it failed to protect her belongings. The Council assisted Ms X in line with relevant law and guidance and was not at fault.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the actions of a social housing landlord in a dispute between Mr X and his neighbour who is a tenant. We cannot investigate the actions of social housing landlords in the management of their estates. There is insufficient evidence of fault in the Council’s response to his complaints about noise nuisance and its investigations are ongoing.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to take action over a hardstanding which Mr X says has damaged his trees. This is a private matter, and it is reasonable for Mr X to seek a remedy by way of the courts.