LGO Individual Decisions

Summary: Ms X complains the Council failed to advise her to claim Universal Credit. Instead, she pursued a claim for housing benefit, to which she is not entitled, and now has rent arrears. We found there was fault by the Council. It has agreed an increased remedy.

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about delays in the Council issuing an Education Health and Care Plan. It is unlikely we could achieve a significantly different remedy than already offered.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to recover council tax arrears directly from Miss X’s earnings. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s assessment of Mrs X’s housing application. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

this complaint about the Council’s assessment of Mr X’s housing application. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with the proposed sale of part of the building where Mr X lives. This is because the Ombudsman cannot investigate complaints about housing let on a long lease. There is also insufficient evidence of fault in how the Council dealt with a planning application for the same property.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the failure of the Council to insist on the complainant’s neighbour submitting a planning application for change of use. This part of the complaint is late. We cannot investigate any concerns about an alcohol licence as this has been considered in court.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions when Mr X fled domestic abuse from his ex-partner in 2016. This is because the events complained of happened too long ago for us to be able to carry out a fair investigation.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with reports of anti-social behaviour. We cannot investigate actions taken by a council acting as a registered social housing provider.

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about an event held in a communal area where the complainants property is located. This is because the complainant is a social housing tenant, and we have no jurisdiction to investigate complaints about councils in their capacity as social housing landlords.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a Penalty Charge Notice because the complainant could have followed the statutory process and applied for another statutory declaration.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about what a social worker allegedly said to another person concerning Ms X. Investigation is unlikely to lead to a worthwhile outcome.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of an application for a COVID-19-related business grant. There is not enough evidence of fault by the Council.

Mr X complains that the Council has not backdated his council tax exemption. We will not investigate this complaint because he can appeal to a Valuation Tribunal.

Summary: We will not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint about the Council’s assessment of a housing application. The complaint was received outside the normal 12-month period for investigating complaints. There is no evidence to suggest that Mr X could not have complained to us sooner. We cannot investigate complaints about the actions of social housing landlords.

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr B’s complaint about the Council’s failure to repair a fence at a neighbouring Council-owned property. This is because we cannot investigate complaints about the management of social housing by councils.

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about a penalty charge notice for a moving traffic contravention. The complainant has appealed against the penalty charge notice to a tribunal.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s assessment of Miss X’s housing application. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation. We cannot investigate her complaints about her tenancy or the management of her neighbours’ tenancies because we cannot investigate the actions of social housing landlords.

Summary: Miss B complains that, after she appealed against a parking ticket and recovery action was cancelled, she asked the Council for a refund of bailiff fees, but it failed to respond. The Council has now agreed to consider this matter under its complaints procedure, so we have discontinued our investigation.

Summary: We will not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint about damage caused to Mr X’s car when a window fell on it. This is because it is reasonable to expect Mr X to take his claim for damages to court.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Mr B’s care and where he lives. This is because further investigation could not add to the Council’s response. It would be reasonable for Mrs B to ask the Court of Protection to consider her views about where Mr B should live.

Summary: Mr X complained the Council wrongly refused his application for the Additional Restrictions Grant causing him financial hardship. There is no evidence of fault in how the Council considered Mr X’s application.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the complainant’s application for a Blue Badge and a taxi card. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about problems in a cemetery because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council. In addition, the Council has provided a proportionate remedy regarding a delay in providing a bench.

Summary: Ms Y complained the Council mismanaged her finances when acting as her appointee. The Ombudsman has found fault by the Council causing injustice. The Council has agreed to remedy this by apologising, making payments for financial loss and to reflect inconvenience and distress, and service improvements.