LGO Individual Decisions

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions when Mr X reported his neighbours’ behaviour. We have no legal power to investigate the Council’s actions as a registered social housing provider. We will not investigate the actions of the Environmental Health team as there is insufficient evidence of fault.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about funeral arrangements. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault in the substantive issues complained about. Although there is fault in the complaint handling, we would not consider the injustice caused is significant enough to justify our resource to investigate.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of a planning application for development in Mr X’s area. This is because we are unlikely to find evidence of fault by the Council sufficient to warrant an investigation.

Summary: Ms X complained about the way the Council’s reablement team went about assessing her needs in 2022 and about various issues associated with her son’s care and her role as a carer. We found no fault with how the 2022 reablement assessment was conducted. However, we found there was a failure to respond to her complaint in January 2023 and delay in carrying out an investigation into direct payment issues. We recommended an apology and that the council took action. We also recommended both Ms X and the Council considered taking part in mediation.

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr B’s complaint about a Penalty Charge Notice. This is because Mr B put in an appeal to London Tribunals.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a complaint about the conduct of a councillor. This is because we are unlikely to find fault.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of matters relating to an Abatement Notice issued to Ms X. This is because the substantive issue falls outside our jurisdiction due to the availability of a court remedy.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about missed refuse collections and unsuccessful attempts to report them. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault and injustice.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a breach of planning control and a retrospective planning application. This is because we are unlikely to find fault.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council responded to questions Mr X sent it during a consultation, because there is not enough evidence of fault. Nor will we investigate the format of the Council’s online consultation material. This is because the Council’s actions here have not caused Mr X a significant injustice. In any case it is likely further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the way the Council decided to approve planning applications for a neighbouring property. We have not seen evidence of fault in the process the Council followed before making its decisions. Also, we will not investigate a complaint about a failure to follow the complaint procedure as it is not a good use of public resources to investigate complaints about complaint procedures, if we are unable to deal with the substantive issue.

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X complaint about children services’ actions. We cannot investigate issues in Court proceedings. We will not investigate children services’ actions from over 13 years ago. It is reasonable to expect Miss X to have asked for a review of her complaints. And Social Work England is more suitable to consider her complaints about social workers’ conduct.

Summary: Ms X complained that the Council failed to provide her with suitable accommodation when she was homeless, failed to provide advice about storage of her belongings when she moved into interim accommodation and failed to check information it held as a result of which she was shortlisted for social housing and then removed from the shortlist. We found the Council was at fault. In recognition of the injustice caused, the Council has agreed to make a payment to Ms X.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about safeguarding Miss X’s child. The complaint is late and there is no good reason to exercise discretion to consider it now.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council failed to safeguard the complainant when she was a child. This is because the issues happened too long ago and the complainant could have complained sooner.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s pursuit of Mr X for unpaid council tax. This is because Mr X has right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal; it would be reasonable for him to use it.

Summary: We will not investigate Mr B’s complaint about the Council’s refusal of his vehicle crossover application. This is because the information does not indicate the Council’s decision was affected by fault.

Summary: Mr X complained the Council did not conduct his daughter’s school admissions appeal correctly. We have found fault because details of the panel’s discussions and decision have not been recorded in sufficient depth. To remedy the injustice caused, the Council has agreed to apologise and arrange a fresh appeal.

Summary: The Council was not at fault for deciding it could not properly conduct an educational review meeting for Miss B’s son without her attendance. It was also not at fault for making a referral to its children’s social work team which reflected its concerns about C’s education. Both these decisions were supported by law and guidance and were not obviously unreasonable.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of a planning application for a development close to a property Mr X owns. 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 not to clear fly tipping on private land. There is insufficient evidence of fault in the Council’s actions to justify an investigation. Plus, further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to issue Mr X with a backdated council tax bill. This is because an investigation is unlikely to find fault with the Council’s actions.

Summary: Mr X complained about the condition of a local road that affected his home. We found fault in how the Council dealt with Mr X’s concerns about the road. The Council agreed to apologise to Mr X and pay him £300 in recognition of his distress and time and trouble caused by its delay, poor communication and complaint handling.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council charges for care and support. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council with respect to its care and financial assessment of the complainant, or its charges.

Summary: Miss X says the Council acted unfairly when it suspended her housing application and ended its main housing duty. We will not investigate as it was reasonable to expect Miss X to use her legal right to appeal to court.