LGO Individual Decisions

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a data breach in a social work assessment. The complaint is late, and there are no good reasons why it could not have been made to us sooner.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax because there is a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal and relates to the Valuation Office Agency which is not within the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction.

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s historic complaint about the Council’s actions in its child protection involvement with her family when she was a child. This is because we could not carry out a full, fair and effective investigation of the matter now due to the very significant passage of time since the events complained about.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about council tax matters. This is because the complaint is late and there are no good reasons for this. The law says we cannot investigate the liability order proceedings.

this complaint about the Council’s offer of unsuitable accommodation under its homeless duty. It was reasonable for Miss X to use the appeal/review procedure to challenge this. Miss X also complained that she was misinformed about being able to remain on the housing register with her previous status. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Summary: We cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint because it relates to the Council’s actions as registered social landlord, which is outside our remit.

Summary: There was fault by the Council. The Council said the complainant’s housing was unsuitable but based its decision on the wrong information. This was fault. An apology and payment for Miss X’s distress remedies the injustice.

Summary: We found fault and service failure by the Council on Mr Y’s complaint about it failing to transfer him and his large family from his accommodation which it accepted was unsuitable. The Council failed to consider the suitability of the accommodation sooner when alerted to problems. It delayed carrying out an assessment and failed to identify it as unsuitable initially under its complaints procedure. The Council agreed to send Mr Y a written apology for the identified failures, pay £2,250 for the injustice caused living in unsuitable accommodation for 15 months, and will ensure officers

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to reduce Mr X’s housing priority as there is insufficient evidence of fault and injustice to justify an investigation.

Summary: Ms X complains the Council has delayed in offering new temporary accommodation despite accepting the current accommodation was unsuitable. Ms X says this has caused her and her family a great deal of distress. We have found fault in the Councils actions for delaying in reviewing Ms X’s accommodation and delay in offering suitable accommodation. The Council has agreed to issue Ms X with an apology and pay her a financial payment.

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint the Council failed to communicate with her about her application for council tax reduction. It is not a good use of public resources to investigate where the substantive matter is outside our jurisdiction.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about advice given by the Council about the procedure for making a private rental deposit payment to a landlord. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Summary: We will not investigate Mr B’s complaint about a Penalty Charge Notice for an alleged moving traffic contravention. This is because it was reasonable for Mr B to put in an appeal to London Tribunals.

Summary: We will not investigate Mr F’s complaint because the Council agreed to appoint an independent investigator and consider his complaint at the second stage of the statutory children’s complaints process. The reason Mr F’s complaint has not progressed is because Mr F refused the Council’s offer, not because of anything the Council has done.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a housing benefit error. This is because there is no significant remaining injustice to justify our involvement.

Summary: Ms X complained the Council repeatedly failed to adhere to agreed reasonable adjustments in the way it communicates with her. The Council was at fault for failing to make reasonable adjustments. This caused Ms X avoidable and aggravated frustration and distress. She was also put to time and effort complaining again. The Council agreed to apologise and provide a financial remedy for the injustice.

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of matters involving her children. The Council has already investigated and responded to some of Ms X’s concerns under all three stages of the statutory complaint procedure. It has apologised and offered remedial action for the injustice caused by the faults identified. We could not add to the Council’s response or achieve anything more.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to issue Miss X a parking permit. It is unlikely we would find fault by the Council or that investigation would achieve any worthwhile outcome for Miss X.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Councils’ failure to provide permanent housing to Ms X who says she has been in temporary accommodation which is unsuitable since 2018. We will not consider her complaints about previous years in temporary accommodation because these events are outside the normal 12-month period for receiving complaints. It is reasonable for Ms X to ask the Council for a review of suitability for her current accommodation.

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to install a charging point and bike store outside his home. We have upheld part of the complaint, and the Council has agreed to take appropriate action. It would therefore not be proportionate to investigate.

Summary: We will not investigate most of Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to issue him with a Fixed Penalty Notice relating to his vehicle or its decision to impound his vehicle. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault. For the remainder, there is insufficient injustice.

Summary: We will not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint about the Council placing Ms X in unsuitable temporary accommodation. This complaint was received outside the normal 12-month period for investigating complaints. There is no evidence to suggest that Ms X could not have complained to us sooner.

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the enforcement of a penalty charge notice. This is because Miss X took her case to court and the matter is now no longer within our remit.

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about children services’ matters. There are no justifiable reasons to reinvestigate a Children Act statutory complaints’ procedure investigation. And the Council has agreed a proportionate way to remedy its delay in that process.

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council issuing liability orders for council tax in 2017 and pursuing them in 2025. We have no jurisdiction to investigate matters which have been subject to court proceedings.