LGO Individual Decisions

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about neglect to Ms Y in a care home at this time. There is an ongoing safeguarding investigation by the Council. We could not currently come to a sound decision about whether there was fault and, if so, the extent of any injustice it caused Ms Y.

Summary: Mr C was unhappy about the time it took to move his (late) father from a residential care home into a more suitable nursing home. We did not find fault with the regards to the Council’s actions.

Summary: We will not investigate Mr B’s complaint about the Council’s delay responding to his freedom of information request. This is because it is reasonable for Mr B to complain to the Information Commissioner.

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to end its complaints inquiry at the first stage of its process. This is because the Council followed its procedures and there is insufficient evidence of fault.

Summary: Mrs X and Ms Y complain about the Council’s handling following their uncle’s (Mr Z) death and its failure to inform them when his funeral was taking place. The Council was at fault for not following its own policy and government good practice in this case. This meant Mrs X and Ms Y missed Mr Z’s funeral and he opportunity to pay their last respects. The Council has agreed to apologise and make payment to Mrs X and Ms Y for the significant distress caused. The Council will also issue written guidance to relevant staff, review its Public Health Funeral policy and then publish the policy

Summary: The Council followed the correct process to end Mr B’s allotment tenancy. There is no evidence to support harassment or an abuse of power by the Council.

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the conduct of a local councillor and how the Council has considered the matter. The Council has not caused Mr X injustice and it would not be a good use of limited public resources to investigate.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a penalty charge notice as there is no indication of fault by the Council and Ms X can appeal against the notice to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal.

Summary: Mr X complains the Council failed to assess his friend’s contributions for residential care properly. He said Mr Y could not afford the payments. I have not found evidence of fault by the Council.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with an application to carry out works to protected trees. This is because we are unlikely to find fault by the Council. The complainant has not been caused significant injustice because the Council failed to publish his comments in response to the application on its website.

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s planning enforcement actions. Mr X used his right of appeal to the planning inspector and more recently the case has been in court.

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about children services’ actions between 2000 and 2016. There are no good reasons the late complaint rule should not apply.

Summary: St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council properly took the action it agreed to as a result of its findings when it completed its consideration of Ms B’s complaint under the children’s statutory complaints procedure. However, it should offer a higher payment to recognise the impact of those faults on Ms B.