LGO Individual Decisions

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s handling of admission to secondary school for his child, Y. The Council is at fault as it cannot demonstrate it properly applied its admissions criteria to Mr X’s application for his child. The Council delayed in providing the questions and answers for the appeal panel hearing and did not provide sufficient in the appeal panel’s decision letter for Mr X to understand why his appeal was refused. But these faults did not cause significant injustice to Mr X. The Council delayed in responding to Mr X’s Freedom of Information request and complaint which c

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how a question was responded to at a Council meeting. This is because there is insufficient evidence that the complainant has suffered a significant injustice.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision that the complainant must claim housing benefit rather than Universal Credit (housing costs). This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council and because the complainant could have used her appeal rights. We also cannot investigate the Department for Work and Pensions.

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council not dealing with refuse collections from his block of flats in an appropriate manner. We have found fault with how the Council dealt with the ongoing issues. Mr X has suffered avoidable frustration and distress in getting the issues resolved. To remedy the injustice caused, the Council has agreed to apologise, pay a further time and trouble payment to Mr X and monitor collections for a period of three months.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s recovery of council tax from Ms X. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Summary: Mr P complains about changes the Council asked him to make to the charges and terms at the pre-school he runs in order to continue to receive funding to deliver the Free Early Education Entitlement. He also complains about support provided during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no fault by the Council.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s fostering service. That is because the complaint is late.

Summary: We will not investigate Mr B’s complaint about the lack of care and support he received from the Council. This is because further investigation could not add to the Council’s response or make a different finding.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s refuse collection service. This is because an investigation is unlikely to add to that already carried out by the Council or lead to a different outcome.

Summary: Mr B says the Council failed to consult him on his neighbour’s planning application, failed to consider the impact it would have on his solar panels and delayed responding to his communications. There is no fault in how the Council dealt with the planning application. The Council delayed responding to an email and complaint. An apology and reminder to officers is satisfactory remedy.

Summary: Ms B complains about the standard of care her father received while resident at a care home (“the Home”). Ms B says staff did not properly manage medications, complete detailed care plans or provide adequate personal care, among other concerns. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Home’s care of Mr Y, including medication management, care planning, personal care and record keeping.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the care given to Ms X’s mother. This is because further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of a complaint made against a local councillor. This is because we are unlikely to find evidence of fault by the Council.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the way the Council responded to reports of noise nuisance. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council and it is unlikely an investigation would lead to a different outcome.

Summary: Ms X complained the Council should not have taken recovery action for council tax as she was unable to travel during lockdown to make payments. She also says the Council should have notified her by email that it was seeking a summons to give her the opportunity to pay. There is no evidence of fault in the Council taking recovery action or fault in how it notified Ms X that it was seeking a court summons.

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about parking issues affecting her company’s car park access. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s approach to the issue, or to show its actions caused the company significant injustice. Any complaint about the removal of parking spaces in 2020 is also late.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the time it is taking for the complainant to get a new home. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council and because part of the complaint is late.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about damage to the complainant’s taxi during an inspection.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to issue Mr X a blue badge. That is because there is not enough evidence of fault in how it made that decision to justify investigating.

Summary: Ms X complained the Council wrongly decided her mother Ms Y deliberately deprived herself of assets to avoid paying care fees. There was fault in the way the Council reached its original decision. It failed to clearly explain how it reached its view in relation to each gift Ms Y made. The Council has agreed to apologise to Ms X to acknowledge the frustration and uncertainty this has caused her. The Council has since set out its decision making for each gift and there is no evidence of fault in how it has done this so we cannot challenge it.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council handled safeguarding concerns relating to Mrs Y’s actions around her son’s (Mr X’s) finances, care and medical needs. Any fault in its actions did not cause the injustice Mrs Y claims it did.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s response to the complainant’s personal injury claim. This is because it would have been reasonable for her to pursue the matter in court.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions in respect of Mr X’s family. There is not enough evidence of fault to warrant investigation, and we cannot achieve the outcome he wants.

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs B’s complaint that the Council has refused her planning applications but granted planning permission to her neighbour. This is because it was reasonable for Mrs B to appeal to the Planning Inspector.

Summary: There was fault by the Council in failing to take action after 13 October 2020 in respect of a homelessness application; fault in accepting and letting a property on its Direct Let scheme that was not cleaned to a good enough standard and without ensuring repairs were completed. The Council has already taken action to resolve the cleaning issue and has agreed an appropriate remedy in respect of the other issues.