LGO Individual Decisions

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a housing benefit overpayment. This is because the complainant could have used her appeal rights and because it is a late complaint.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a tree because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of his neighbour’s planning application. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about adult social care needs assessment. There is not enough evidence of fault. The Council made its decision following an assessment of the complainant’s needs, which involved the complainant and considered their views. The Ombudsman cannot question the Council’s decision even though the complainant disagrees with it.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision that the complainant cannot join the housing register. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Summary: We will not investigate Miss B’s complaint that her car was damaged by a pothole which the Council had failed to repair. This is because it is reasonable for Miss B to pursue her compensation claim by taking the Council to court.

Summary: Miss Y complained the Council failed to make alternative provision for her child, Z, when they were unable to attend school. We have not found fault with the Council in the way it made its decisions about Z’s alternative provision.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s response to Mr X’s reports of water ingress into his property. This is because we are unlikely to find evidence of fault by the Council sufficient to warrant an investigation.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to grant planning permission for change of use to a property to a children’s home for a maximum of three children. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. We cannot achieve the outcome the complainant is seeking.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s assessment of a homelessness application. It was reasonable for Mr X to ask for a review of the decision and to appeal it to the court if he remained dissatisfied with the outcome.

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to provide the special educational provision set out in her child’s education, health and care plans, and handled her complaint poorly. Mrs X said there was an impact on her child of the missed education, and it caused unnecessary and avoidable distress and frustration. We find the Council at fault, and this caused injustice. The Council has agreed to make a payment to Mrs X to remedy the injustice caused.

Summary: Ms X complains about the handling of her Council Tax account and the Council’s failure to make reasonable adjustments in its communication with her. We have concluded our investigation having not made a finding of fault. Whilst we acknowledge confusion with Ms X’s billing, this could not be attributed to the actions of the Council. The evidence demonstrates it was acting on information received from the DWP. Further, we have not found a basis to criticise the Council’s actions with regards to Ms X’s complaint about reasonable adjustments.

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the removal of the complainant’s daughter from her care. The complaint concerns the start of court action or what happened in court.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about land maintenance as there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council and it is unlikely we could achieve the outcome the complainant seeks.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council charging a private landlord for removing an accumulation of waste from his rented property. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s School Admissions Appeal Panel’s handling of her appeal against the refusal to offer her child a place at her preferred school. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault to warrant further investigation.

Summary: Miss X complained the Council put her child in an inappropriate school, failed to provide alternative provision when they were out of school, and failed to support her child. Miss X said the missed education impacted her child and their wellbeing. Miss X said it had a financial impact and caused her unnecessary distress. We find the Council at fault and this caused injustice. The Council has agreed to make the payment it has already offered Miss X to remedy the injustice.

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the poor surface conditions of a road near to his property is causing damage to his property. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault.

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council failing to ask her for relevant information which she considers would have affected her welfare benefit claims. This is because the actions complained about are not the administrative function of a council.

Summary: Mrs X complains that her daughter Y, has not access to a full-time education in a setting that it able to meet her needs. We have concluded our investigation having made a finding of fault. The Council acknowledges fault where there was delay in arranging Y’s admission in July 2023. The Council also acknowledges fault for the period between October 2023 – February 2024, where Y was without alternative provision, nor access to a full-time education until a placement secured. The Council has proposed a remedy which we consider proportionate in the circumstances and has agreed to action

Summary: Mr G says the Council’s handling of his application for help to improve his home’s energy efficiency was poor. There was fault causing injustice by the Council. It has agreed a remedy.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the behaviour of two Council staff members who Mr X complained about. This is because the tests in our Assessment Code have not been met and there are insufficient grounds to warrant an investigation.

Summary: We found fault with the falls care provided to Mr X when he was resident in a care home. We also found fault with the safeguarding enquiries carried out by the local safeguarding authority. The organisations involved will apologise to Mr X’s daughter, Ms Y, and explain what action they will take to prevent similar problems occurring for other service users. They will also pay Ms Y a financial remedy in recognition of the distress these events caused her.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s pursuit of Miss X for unpaid council tax. This is because Miss X has right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal; it would therefore be reasonable for her to use it. Further, the events complained about took place more than 12 months ago and are therefore outside of our jurisdiction due to the time that has passed.

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about a crane erected on a building site near her property. There is insufficient evidence of fault and if Ms X feels the developer has trespassed or caused damage to her property, this is a private matter which is best considered by a court.