LGO Individual Decisions

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a council tax liability decision. This is because Ms X has a right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal. Part of the complaint is premature. There is not enough evidence of fault by the Council in other matters to warrant investigation.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision after care assessments to end direct payments to Mr X and Mr Y. There is not enough evidence of fault in how the Council reached its decision to warrant investigation by us

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to provide education for her child Y. She also complained about how it handled Y’s Education, Health and Care Plan. The Council was at fault. Action taken by the Council prior to, and during, the course of, this investigation has provided suitable remedy for the injustice caused to Y. No further recommendations will be made.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council Tax liability. This is because Mr X had a right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal and it was reasonable to expect him to use it.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions regarding Mrs X’s council tax account. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council to justify an investigation.

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about an alleged breach of her personal data. The Information Commissioner’s Office is better placed to consider this complaint.

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to recognise his immigration status when he was a looked after child and failed to renew his visa before it expired. Mr X said this meant he overstayed his visa and is unable to apply for indefinite leave to remain for some years. Mr X says, as a result, he cannot afford to go to university as he will be charged as an overseas student and the delays caused significant distress. Mr X would like the Council to meet his education costs. There was fault in the way the Council did not complete the actions from the statutory complaint procedure. This frust

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a missed garden waste collection because there is insufficient evidence of injustice.

Summary: Mr X complains on behalf of a limited company that the Council has delayed determining the liability of a property for business rates, meaning his company will suffer economic loss. The Council is not at fault.

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs B’s complaint about the Council refusing to refund her selective licence fee. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation.

Summary: Mr X complained that the Council failed in its safeguarding duties towards him. We did not find fault with the Council’s actions.

Summary: We will not investigate the Council’s response to Mr X’s complaint to Environmental Health about a mice infestation. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault in the Council’s actions.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council's handling of a complaint about the chair of a community council as there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council, or of significant injustice having been caused to the complainant.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint alleging carers failed to administer eye drops correctly that may have caused Mr Y’s partial sight loss. This is because an investigation is unlikely to achieve a worthwhile outcome.

Summary: Miss X complains the Council delayed arranging a school place or alternative provision for Child Y, which meant they were without education for a year. We find fault with the Council for the delay in assigning Child Y a school place, and for failing to arrange alternative provision meanwhile. We also find fault with the Council for its complaint handling. The Council has agreed to make financial payments in recognition of the distress and missed provision, as well as carry out service improvements.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax premiums because there is a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal.

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council removing Mr X’s grandchild from his care and restricting his contact. A legal bar prevents us doing so because the residence and contact arrangements for the child have been subject to court action and only a court could vary them.

Summary: Mrs X complained about the way the Council treated her and her husband as foster carers. The Council is at fault for not fully following the standards of care process and delaying its response to Mrs X’s request for a stage two investigation. This caused distress and uncertainty to Mr and Mrs X. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment and remind staff of the importance of following the full standards of care process.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s administration of Miss X’s council tax account. This is because at the heart of this complaint is a dispute about liability and Miss X can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal about this.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Business rates advice because the matter is out of time.

Summary: Mrs X, a foster carer complained about the outcome of the Council’s investigation into an allegation made against her by a foster child she cared for. There was no fault in how the Council investigated and substantiated the allegations. However, the Council's policy around roles and responsibilities towards people subject to investigations is not clearly defined which caused Mrs X confusion and uncertainty. The Council agreed to apologise to Mrs X and review its policy.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about council tax arrears and council tax reduction. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council and because there were appeal rights the complainant could have used.

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council failing to deal with her complaint appropriately under the statutory children complaints procedure. This is because the Council has agreed to resolve the complaint early by providing a proportionate remedy for the injustice caused to Miss X.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s response to ground maintenance. Any injustice is not significant enough to warrant an investigation.

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with the complainant’s concerns about the sale of a property and a planning application. This is because some of the issues complained about do not relate to an administrative function of the Council. It is unlikely we would find fault with the remaining issues complained about.