Public project assurance methodology
Improvements and rigor needed in public project assurance methodologies, including updated tools and reviewer training.
1,942 items
10 sources
6 inquiries
Source spread
Where this theme appears
Public project assurance methodology has been flagged across 10 independent accountability sources:
44 inquiry recs
1235 committee recs
1 CQC action
19 HMICFRS recs
183 NAO recs
58 IMB recs
2 detention investigation recs
3 PHSO decisions
396 LGO/SPSO decisions
When the same issue appears across inquiries, coroner reports, and regulators independently, it indicates a recurring issue across the public record.
Browse by source
Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
Inquiry Recommendations (44)
RHI-21 — Sceptical Business Case Scrutiny
Recommendation: The Department of Finance's distinctive role in scrutinising business cases should be searching and sceptical, guarding against over-reliance on the assurances offered by the applicant Department.
Gov response: [Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 19-23, 29-33 together as a group under the 'Governance and Financial Controls' theme.] Accepted in full. Addressed through the Review of the Expenditure Approval and Business Case Processes. …
Accepted
RHI-19 — Business Case Approval Redesign
Recommendation: The processes within a Department for approving new expenditure and business cases including, where it forms part of that process, the role of Casework Committees, should be thoroughly re-designed to be more rigorous, testing and independent. Such processes should be …
Gov response: [Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 19-23, 29-33 together as a group under the 'Governance and Financial Controls' theme.] Accepted in full. Addressed through the major and fundamental Review of the Expenditure Approval and …
Accepted
RHI-16 — Third Party Governance
Recommendation: Where other government bodies, such as Ofgem, or contractors or other third parties are involved in the implementation of a project, the 'home' Department must retain overall control and overall project management. The governance arrangement between the Northern Ireland Department …
Gov response: [Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 8-18, 24, 26-28, 32b, 34-36 together as a group under the 'Professional Skills, Resourcing, Record Keeping and Raising Concerns' themes.] NI Executive Response (October 2021): These recommendations can …
Accepted
RHI-14 — Risk Tracking and Reporting
Recommendation: The risks involved in implementation of an initiative must be tracked, re-considered regularly and used to manage, improve and adjust the project in real time. How the risks are being acted upon should be reported to the Project Board and …
Gov response: [Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 8-18, 24, 26-28, 32b, 34-36 together as a group under the 'Professional Skills, Resourcing, Record Keeping and Raising Concerns' themes.] NI Executive Response (October 2021): These recommendations can …
Accepted
RHI-13 — External Expertise on Project Boards
Recommendation: Project boards are an essential element of project management oversight and must include individuals who can challenge and who are not directly responsible for the day-to-day delivery of the project. Such boards, in appropriate circumstances, can benefit greatly from the …
Gov response: [Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 8-18, 24, 26-28, 32b, 34-36 together as a group under the 'Professional Skills, Resourcing, Record Keeping and Raising Concerns' themes.] NI Executive Response (October 2021): These recommendations can …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
RHI-11 — Project Management Disciplines
Recommendation: Best practice project and risk management disciplines should be the default practice within the Northern Ireland Civil Service when developing novel and complex policies and managing their implementation. These disciplines can be widely applied and should not be confined only …
Gov response: [Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 8-18, 24, 26-28, 32b, 34-36 together as a group under the 'Professional Skills, Resourcing, Record Keeping and Raising Concerns' themes.] NI Executive Response (October 2021): These recommendations can …
Accepted
ETI-19 — Collaborative Delivery
Recommendation: At all stages of the project there should be a collaborative approach to delivering it, including co-location of representatives from each organisation relevant to the particular stage, enabling issues to be addressed and resolved at the earliest opportunity, minimising risk …
Gov response: Council Leader Cammy Day stated: 'We know that serious mistakes were made in the construction of the original tram line.' The Council broadly agrees with Lord Hardie's recommendations but notes improvements were already implemented for …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
ETI-18 — Effective Communication and Reporting
Recommendation: There should be effective communication and reporting at all stages of the project, including accurate progress reports to councillors and stakeholders, with clear escalation procedures for issues that may affect cost, programme or scope.
Gov response: Council Leader Cammy Day stated: 'We know that serious mistakes were made in the construction of the original tram line.' The Council broadly agrees with Lord Hardie's recommendations but notes improvements were already implemented for …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
F286 — Impact assessments before structural change
Recommendation: Impact and risk assessments should be made public, and debated publicly, before a proposal for any major structural change to the healthcare system is accepted. Such assessments should cover at least the following issues: What is the precise issue or …
Gov response: The government published "Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First" (Cm 8777) on 19 November 2013, responding to all 290 recommendations of the Francis Report. This followed an initial response "Patients First and Foremost" …
Accepted
RHI-23 — Ministerial Notification of Approval Conditions
Recommendation: Ministers should always be advised of any conditions attached to the approval of a policy or project by the Department of Finance. The Department of Finance should also require, and be kept informed of, regular reviews to ensure compliance with …
Gov response: [Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 19-23, 29-33 together as a group under the 'Governance and Financial Controls' theme.] Accepted in full. As part of the Annual Assurance Statement, departments confirm that Ministers have …
Accepted
RHI-22 — Proactive DoF Monitoring
Recommendation: Particularly where a policy initiative is demand-led, novel, complex and/or likely to be lengthy, consideration should be given to increasing Department of Finance involvement from an early stage and on an ongoing basis, including a more proactive role in monitoring …
Gov response: [Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 19-23, 29-33 together as a group under the 'Governance and Financial Controls' theme.] Accepted in full. DoF now applies non-standard conditions of approval for complex projects with tailored …
Accepted
RHI-15 — Programme Boards for Sector Coordination
Recommendation: Co-ordination of groups of projects aiming to achieve change in a particular sector – e.g. renewable energy projects – would be stronger through use of high level Programme Boards. Such boards should meet regularly and receive reports of relevant experience …
Gov response: [Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 8-18, 24, 26-28, 32b, 34-36 together as a group under the 'Professional Skills, Resourcing, Record Keeping and Raising Concerns' themes.] NI Executive Response (October 2021): These recommendations can …
Accepted
RHI-12 — Invest NI and SIB Collaboration
Recommendation: The leaders of the Northern Ireland Civil Service should work with Invest Northern Ireland and the Strategic Investment Board to consider how both organisations can better contribute their expertise to the work of mainstream Departments, particularly in relation to good …
Gov response: [Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 8-18, 24, 26-28, 32b, 34-36 together as a group under the 'Professional Skills, Resourcing, Record Keeping and Raising Concerns' themes.] NI Executive Response (October 2021): These recommendations can …
Accepted
RHI-2 — Novel Policy Scrutiny
Recommendation: Novel, potentially volatile and untested initiatives should in future be scrutinised thoroughly, well ahead of ministerial and business case approval. The Inquiry commends processes such as a 'starting point Gateway assessment' and, at a suitable point, a 'feasibility signoff' completed …
Gov response: [Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 1-4 together as a group under the 'Policy Development' theme.] NI Executive Response (October 2021): These recommendations can be accepted in full. Some elements are addressed in existing …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
SHI-10 — Uniform policy for obtaining technical advice
Recommendation: This issue was highlighted in the Grant Thornton report where similar recommendations are made to what is set out above. NHSL has taken steps to address the issue. However, it is not clear from the available evidence that any such …
Gov response: All 11 recommendations accepted by Cabinet Secretary Neil Gray MSP on 13 March 2025.
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
SHI-7 — Independent validation of hospital construction
Recommendation: It is clearly desirable that a health board has the assurance prior to the handover of a new or refurbished healthcare facility that the facility's specialised ventilation systems have been independently validated by an Authorising Engineer as fit for purpose …
Gov response: All 11 recommendations accepted by Cabinet Secretary Neil Gray MSP on 13 March 2025. Progress update 17 September 2025: For any future revenue-funded project
Accepted
In progress
SHI-6 — Information on common construction errors
Recommendation: It is important that common project errors are not repeated. One helpful step is to ensure health boards undertaking projects have information about such common errors, and that this information is clearly communicated to them. This would ensure that health …
Gov response: All 11 recommendations accepted by Cabinet Secretary Neil Gray MSP on 13 March 2025. Progress update 17 September 2025: NHS Scotland Assure is developing a framework of training and lessons learned that will be accessible …
Accepted
In progress
SHI-5 — Streamlining NHS construction quality procedures
Recommendation: A range of procedures now exists to help ensure health board projects meet appropriate standards. One is the NHS Scotland Design Assessment Process ("NDAP"). There is also a Sustainable Design and Construction Procedure ("SDAC"). In addition, there is the NHS …
Gov response: All 11 recommendations accepted by Cabinet Secretary Neil Gray MSP on 13 March 2025. Progress update 17 September 2025 (GIQ S6W-40544): NHS Scotland Assure has implemented a Key Stage Assurance Review (KSAR) process; specifications of …
Accepted
In progress
ETI-24 — Duty of Disclosure Legislation
Recommendation: Scottish Ministers should consider the need for legislation to impose a similar duty of disclosure to that owed by policyholders to their insurers upon a company, its directors, employees or consultants and upon a local authority and its officials towards …
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated it is 'giving careful consideration' to recommendations about provisions for misleading evidence. Source: Transport Secretary Statement, 2 November 2023.
Response Unclear
ETI-23 — Criminal Sanctions for Misleading Information
Recommendation: In addition to civil liability from any sanction introduced in accordance with Recommendation 22, Scottish Ministers should consider whether there is need for a statutory criminal offence involving strict liability once it is established that information or reports were misleading …
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated it is 'giving careful consideration' to recommendations about civil damages provisions and criminal statutory offences for misleading evidence. The Government noted that existing remedies may already exist under delictual liability and …
Response Unclear
ETI-22 — Civil Sanctions for Misleading Reports
Recommendation: Where a company, including an ALEO, knowingly submits a report or other information to local authority officials that is misleading by reason of the inclusion of false statements or the omission of relevant facts, or where such officials knowingly submit …
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated it is 'giving careful consideration' to recommendations about civil damages provisions and criminal statutory offences for misleading evidence. The Government noted that existing remedies may already exist under delictual liability and …
Response Unclear
ETI-21 — Duty of Officials to Councillors
Recommendation: Local authority officials should be mindful at all times of the distinction in roles between them and councillors, who are solely responsible for strategic decisions, and of their duty to provide accurate reports to councillors to enable them to take …
Gov response: Council Leader Cammy Day stated: 'We know that serious mistakes were made in the construction of the original tram line.' The Council broadly agrees with Lord Hardie's recommendations but notes improvements were already implemented for …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
ETI-20 — Prohibition on Misleading Reports from ALEOs
Recommendation: The directors, employees and consultants of the company responsible for the procurement and delivery of the project as project managers, including an arm's-length external organisation (ALEO) wholly owned by the local authority that is the promoter and owner of the …
Gov response: Council Leader Cammy Day stated: 'We know that serious mistakes were made in the construction of the original tram line.' The Council broadly agrees with Lord Hardie's recommendations but notes improvements were already implemented for …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
ETI-16 — Design Engagement Process
Recommendation: Following designer appointment, continuous engagement with promoters, owners, project managers, planning authorities, utility companies, and affected landowners should clarify design criteria, with local planning authorities producing detailed design guidelines beforehand and collaborative resolution of design issues throughout.
Gov response: Council Leader Cammy Day stated: 'We know that serious mistakes were made in the construction of the original tram line.' The Council broadly agrees with Lord Hardie's recommendations but notes improvements were already implemented for …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
ETI-15 — Qualified Project Management
Recommendation: Project promoters should appoint procurement and project managers with qualified, experienced permanent employees who have successfully delivered similar projects on time and within budget.
Gov response: Council Leader Cammy Day stated: 'We know that serious mistakes were made in the construction of the original tram line, which caused a great deal of disruption and concern for residents and businesses, as well …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
ETI-14 — Utility Diversion Risk Management
Recommendation: While acknowledging utility diversion approaches, promoters should demonstrate adequate risk management proposals without prescriptive requirements regarding MUDFA versus bow wave methods.
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated it already operates in line with best practices for governance and light rail delivery. Source: Transport Secretary Statement, 2 November 2023.
Accepted
ETI-13 — Utility Diversion Planning
Recommendation: Light rail procurement strategies must adequately address utility location uncertainties, requiring route exposure and clearance well before construction, specifying elapsed time between clearance and commencement, considering route length and past UK experience.
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated it already operates in line with best practices for governance and light rail delivery. Source: Transport Secretary Statement, 2 November 2023.
Accepted
ETI-11 — Public Fund Protection
Recommendation: Scottish Ministers and local authorities funding light rail should protect public funds through: conditional grant payments with review hold points; critical review and approval of Business Cases and contracts; involvement in project delivery; and requiring local authority compliance with Transport …
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated: 'Effective collaboration sits at the heart of this Government, and the recent Verity House agreement is a testament to our commitment.' While responsibility for delivery remains with councils as project leads, …
Accepted in Part
No update 2+ yrs
ETI-10 — Joint Working Group with COSLA
Recommendation: Scottish Ministers should establish a joint working group with Convention of Scottish Local Authorities representatives to leverage Transport Scotland's project management experience and expertise for light rail projects.
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated: 'Effective collaboration sits at the heart of this Government, and the recent Verity House agreement is a testament to our commitment to embrace that collaborative approach.' The Government committed to championing …
Accepted in Part
No update 2+ yrs
ETI-9 — Risk Management Standards
Recommendation: Risk identification and management should be integral to major public-sector contracts, employing probabilistic forecasts, critical review of mitigation claims, constant governance challenge, early warning detection, and quality-focused evidence rather than process emphasis.
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated it already operates in line with best practices for governance and light rail delivery. Source: Transport Secretary Statement, 2 November 2023.
Accepted
ETI-8 — Update Optimism Bias Guidance
Recommendation: Optimism bias guidance, based on decades-old data, requires updating to include light rail projects and reflect current empirical evidence, with reviews every five years.
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated it already operates in line with best practices but will consider updating guidance. Source: Transport Secretary Statement, 2 November 2023.
Accepted in Part
No update 2+ yrs
ETI-7 — External Peer Review
Recommendation: Each Business Case risk assessment should undergo peer review by external consultants experienced in large-scale transportation infrastructure, submitting reports sufficiently before contract signature.
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated it already operates in line with best practices for governance and light rail delivery. Source: Transport Secretary Statement, 2 November 2023.
Accepted
ETI-6 — Optimism Bias in Business Cases
Recommendation: All Business Case versions must include risk assessments accounting for optimism bias per published government guidance.
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated it already operates in line with best practices for governance and light rail delivery. Source: Transport Secretary Statement, 2 November 2023.
Accepted
ETI-5 — Business Case Timing
Recommendation: Where Business Cases assume pre-contract completion of design, approvals, or utility diversions, contract negotiations should await completion; otherwise, a revised Business Case reflecting actual conditions must be prepared before signing.
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated it already operates in line with best practices for governance and light rail delivery. Source: Transport Secretary Statement, 2 November 2023.
Accepted
ETI-4 — Inquiry Cost Transparency
Recommendation: When reporting public inquiry costs, Scottish Ministers should disclose net costs to the public purse, excluding previously-incurred accommodation and staffing expenses, alongside total departmental account costs.
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated that guidance similar to that suggested is already in development. Source: Transport Secretary Statement, 2 November 2023.
Accepted in Part
No update 2+ yrs
ETI-2 — Inquiry Independence
Recommendation: Scottish Ministers must not appoint any department, agency, or government organization as inquiry sponsor where it or its employees had involvement in the project under investigation.
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated that guidance similar to that suggested is already in development. Source: Transport Secretary Statement, 2 November 2023.
Accepted in Part
No update 2+ yrs
ETI-1 — Public Inquiry Efficiency
Recommendation: Scottish Ministers should review public inquiries to find cost-effective methods of avoiding establishment delays, potentially creating a dedicated unit within the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and publishing updated guidance.
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated that guidance similar to that suggested is already in development for the efficient establishment of inquiries and has been shared with recent inquiries. Source: Transport Secretary Statement, 2 November 2023.
Accepted in Part
No update 2+ yrs
RHI-17 — Professional Development
Recommendation: The Northern Ireland Civil Service should take steps to draw on best practice from other jurisdictions to provide more support for professions within the civil service. The Inquiry specifically recommends: (a) the establishment of a project management profession with a …
Gov response: [Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 8-18, 24, 26-28, 32b, 34-36 together as a group under the 'Professional Skills, Resourcing, Record Keeping and Raising Concerns' themes.] NI Executive Response (October 2021): These recommendations can …
Accepted
RHI-10 — External Consultants Guidance
Recommendation: The Northern Ireland Civil Service should consider what changes are needed to its guidance and practices on the use of external consultants arising from the experience of RHI. Specific recommendations include: (a) that better assessments are needed at the outset …
Gov response: [Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 8-18, 24, 26-28, 32b, 34-36 together as a group under the 'Professional Skills, Resourcing, Record Keeping and Raising Concerns' themes.] NI Executive Response (October 2021): These recommendations can …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
RHI-1 — Policy Skills Assessment
Recommendation: A new policy at its earliest stage should be subject to a rigorous process to determine whether the Northern Ireland devolved administration has (or is prepared to assign) the necessary skills and resources to deliver the policy safely and competently. …
Gov response: [Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 1-4 together as a group under the 'Policy Development' theme.] NI Executive Response (October 2021): These recommendations can be accepted in full. Some elements are addressed in existing …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
ETI-17 — Governance Structure
Recommendation: The governance structure for the delivery of a major project such as a light rail scheme should follow published guidance and ensure clarity regarding the respective roles of various bodies and individuals. The chairman of the company responsible for procurement …
Gov response: Council Leader Cammy Day stated: 'We know that serious mistakes were made in the construction of the original tram line.' The Council broadly agrees with Lord Hardie's recommendations but notes improvements were already implemented for …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
ETI-12 — Record Keeping Requirements
Recommendation: For transparency, Scottish Ministers should maintain minutes documenting: discussions and decisions between Ministers and civil servants regarding publicly-funded project involvement; discussions with local authorities and contractors; and negotiations, including mediation discussions.
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated that 'robust and enhanced procedures regarding minute-taking and documentation management have also been embedded within the Government and the Civil Service.' Source: Transport Secretary Statement, 2 November 2023.
Accepted
HIA-6 — HIA Redress Board
Recommendation: We consider the appropriate method of administering the compensation scheme is to create a specific Historic Institutional Abuse Redress Board for that purpose, and we so recommend. The HIA Redress Board should be responsible for receiving and processing applications for, …
Gov response: No formal government response published.
Accepted
IR2-14 — Arms Length Body Administration
Recommendation: I recommend that an Arms Length Body (ALB) should be set up to administer the compensation scheme, with guaranteed independence of judgement, chaired by a judge of High Court or Court of Session status as sole decision maker, transparent in …
Gov response: In line with recommendations 14 and 16 of the Second Interim Report, IBCA has been established to deliver the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme and financial compensation to victims of infected blood on a UK-wide basis. …
Accepted
Committee Recommendations (1235) — showing 50 strongest matches
#8 — Insufficient evaluations of government major projects, with significant departmental gaps remaining.
Recommendation: There are too few evaluations of government’s major projects. As we pointed out in our May 2022 report on the use of evaluation and modelling in government, in 2019, only 8% of £432 billion of spend on major projects had …
Gov response: The department agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. on 21 July 2025. It recommends making public health a statutory objective for water companies and highlights their role in tackling antimicrobial resistance through better wastewater management. It …
Not Addressed
#26 — Home Office lacks clear methodology and data for assessing Rwanda scheme's deterrent effect.
Recommendation: Assessing the deterrent effect, and thus value for money, of the scheme will be complex. The Home Office recognised that it will be difficult to isolate the impact of the Rwanda partnership from other government policies intended to stop small …
Gov response: 5.1 The government notes the Committee’s recommendation. 5.2 The evaluation of deterrent impact and value for money for the MEDP policy will not proceed because the operationalisation of the policy was ceased.
Not Accepted
#25 — Accounting Officer could not confirm Rwanda policy offers value for money without deterrence evidence.
Recommendation: Accounting Officers are responsible for approving, in advance, all significant initiatives, policies, programmes and projects, and should provide assurance to Parliament that those activities are meeting the accounting officer standards set out in Managing Public Money – regularity, propriety, value …
Gov response: 1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 1.2 The Home Office has already set out the funds paid to the Government of Rwanda as part of the Migration and Economic Development Partnership …
Not Addressed
#13 — Home Office underestimated large accommodation site set-up costs due to optimism bias and inadequate expertise.
Recommendation: We were concerned by the Home Office’s assessment of the set-up costs to convert the two former RAF bases to accommodation. At the outset, the Home Office estimated that such costs would be £5 million for each site, but the …
Gov response: 2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 2.2 A raft of measures has been implemented to address weaknesses. The programme was recently restructured to deliver smaller sites, requiring lighter touch refurbishment and …
Accepted
#2 — Mandate Home Office to detail future due diligence processes protecting taxpayers' money on projects.
Recommendation: In its haste to establish large accommodation sites, the Home Office made unacceptable and avoidable mistakes, and failed to protect value for money. The Home Office asserts that its need to deal with a “national emergency” meant it had to …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented A raft of measures has been implemented to address weaknesses. The programme was recently restructured to deliver smaller sites, requiring lighter touch refurbishment and supporting the …
Accepted
#42 — Women's health hubs require national evaluation to ensure benefits and multi-service provision.
Recommendation: It is positive to hear that many of the leaders in the ICBs are focusing their hubs on disadvantaged groups. While local ownership, management and decentralisation of the hubs is important to meet local needs, regular national-level evaluations are also …
Gov response: We are committed to moving towards a neighbourhood health service, with more care delivered in local communities, to identify and address problems earlier and closer to home. Women’s health hubs are an example of this …
Not Addressed
#4 — Clarify OVfM's scrutiny process for investment proposals, including selection criteria and methods.
Recommendation: The Treasury must clarify how the OVfM will scrutinise investment proposals in the Spending Review process. This should include the criteria by which the OVfM selects investment proposals for scrutiny. The Treasury should also provide the method by which such …
No Published Response
#26 — Home Office acknowledges its 'entrepreneurial' asylum site acquisition approach was flawed.
Recommendation: During our evidence session, the Home Office described its approach to acquiring large sites as “entrepreneurial”. It explained that this strategy was about piloting and testing approaches while operating at speed with limited information.90 The Home Office explained this as …
Under Consideration
#23 — Home Office asylum accommodation plans consistently rated 'red' by Infrastructure and Projects Authority.
Recommendation: The Home Office had initially planned to be using the Northeye site to accommodate asylum seekers by March 2023, but this was delayed due to issues around the remediation costs and challenges getting the site operational. In March 2023, the …
Under Consideration
#22 — Home Office failed to adequately assess acquisition risks and costs for Northeye site.
Recommendation: When the Chief Secretary to the Treasury approved the acquisition of the Northeye site on 25 March 2023, he noted that the value-for-money case was marginal and based on assumptions that were highly uncertain.71 The cost of remediating the building …
Under Consideration
#21 — Home Office culture normalised emergency operations, weakening approval processes for asylum accommodation sites.
Recommendation: We were concerned about a prevailing culture within the Home Office that normalises operating in an emergency and led it to weaken approval processes when acquiring large sites like Northeye. Moreover, it has often appeared that the Home Office has …
Under Consideration
#20 — Home Office prioritised speed over assurance when acquiring large asylum accommodation sites.
Recommendation: We asked the Home Office why, despite spending large sums of public money on these large sites, many of them did not achieve the expected benefits. It explained that both the previous and current government had strategies to exit hotel …
Under Consideration
#19 — Home Office large asylum sites programme suffered poor value for money and significant failures.
Recommendation: In May 2024, the previous Public Accounts Committee reported on the Home Office’s development of alternative asylum accommodation to hotels, including large sites at Scampton and Wethersfield, the Bibby Stockholm vessel, and former student accommodation in Huddersfield. The Committee found …
Under Consideration
#18 — Ensure realistic market sale price for Northeye site if government decides to resell it.
Recommendation: The contract for the Northeye acquisition contained conditions that meant that the longer it took the Home Office to complete the purchase beyond a six–week timeframe, the more money it would pay. The National Audit Office reported that despite these …
Under Consideration
#17 — Home Office lacked oversight of contracted property staff, incurring additional Northeye costs.
Recommendation: In April 2021, the Home Office contracted staff who had previously worked under the Ministry of Justice’s property function to provide in-house expertise in commercial property transactions. From August 2022, the contracted staff managed the acquisition of the Home Office’s …
Under Consideration
#16 — Home Office made limited use of Ministry of Justice property expertise for Northeye acquisition.
Recommendation: Since 2016, the Home Office has had a shared-services agreement with the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ’s) property function to provide a range of property services on behalf of the Home Office. For the Northeye acquisition, the Home Office made limited …
Under Consideration
#15 — Home Office failed to complete a full business case for the Northeye site acquisition.
Recommendation: The Small Ministerial Group, established around November 2022, implemented concessions to the process of acquiring sites, including dispensing with the requirement for a full business case before approving acquisitions. The Home Office began drafting an outline business case for the …
Under Consideration
#14 — Home Office acquired Northeye site with incomplete information and insufficient contamination surveys.
Recommendation: The Home Office assessed the acquisition against the Accounting Officer tests, concluding that the proposal met the tests of regularity, propriety and feasibility, presented in the Accounting Officer Advice. The assessment also found that the use of the site for …
Under Consideration
#13 — Home Office bypassed standard valuation and approval processes for Northeye site acquisition.
Recommendation: Both the Ministry of Justice’s property function, which provided an outsourced property service to the Home Office, and the Home Office’s external property advisers recommended conducting a ‘Red Book’ valuation for the site, as typically required for a site requiring …
Under Consideration
#12 — Home Office acknowledged inadequate due diligence and community engagement for Northeye acquisition.
Recommendation: When we asked the Home Office what it had done to understand the risks before acquiring the Northeye site, it told us it did a “fair amount of due diligence” and repeatedly emphasised that “with the benefit of hindsight” 22 …
Under Consideration
#11 — Home Office failed to fully action Northeye site survey recommendations on contamination and costs.
Recommendation: The Home Office commissioned some surveys but not a complete ‘Red Book’ survey and sought some additional professional advice on the state of the Northeye site before deciding to purchase it. Preliminary surveys of the site warned of potentially high …
Under Consideration
#10 — Home Office acknowledged rushed acquisitions led to abandoned projects and wasted public funds.
Recommendation: We were concerned by the amount of public money the Home Office has spent on these projects, which have either been abandoned or have not delivered the expected benefits. During our evidence session, we questioned the Home Office on this, …
Under Consideration
#7 — Home Office cited 'pace' and ministerial pressure for rapid Northeye acquisition.
Recommendation: When we asked the Home Office whether it had rushed its decision to acquire the Northeye site, the Home Office told us it was “operating at pace” to address the growing number of people claiming asylum. The Home Office said …
Under Consideration
#4 — Address cultural issues allowing Home Office controls and processes to be overridden too easily.
Recommendation: We are concerned that the Home Office’s culture allowed it to override too easily the controls and processes in place to protect taxpayers’ money. The Home Office appears to have been operating in crisis mode for several years and now …
Under Consideration
#2 — Set out changes to ensure Home Office investment decisions use comprehensive information and transparent consultation
Recommendation: In its haste to purchase the Northeye site, the Home Office ignored opportunities to properly understand the risks and costs of developing it, leading to poor value for money for the taxpayer. The Home Office asserts it did a “fair …
Under Consideration
#20 — Value for money assessments do not fully mitigate unsuitable carbon capture project risks
Recommendation: When selecting which clusters to proceed with and which projects to select within each cluster, the Department assessed value for money against five criteria: deliverability; economic benefits; costs; carbon savings; and learning. Once the shortlist of Track 1 projects had …
Gov response: 4. PAC conclusion: The Department and HM Treasury lack clarity on how they would take account of project underperformance and advances in scientific understanding as part of their ongoing assessment of the programme’s future. 4a. …
Not Addressed
#4 — Department and Treasury lack clarity on accounting for CCUS project underperformance and scientific advances
Recommendation: The Department and HM Treasury lack clarity on how they would take account of project underperformance and advances in scientific understanding as part of their ongoing assessment of the programme’s future. The Department had a clear set of five factors …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. any future support for BECCS. These criteria will build on existing sustainability criteria for biomass and include associated monitoring, reporting and verification arrangements. The department plans to consult …
Accepted
#24 — HMRC has not formally assessed transaction-based reporting, despite its acknowledged compliance benefits.
Recommendation: HMRC has not pursued some controls used in other countries, including ‘transaction–based reporting’ where businesses are required to regularly report all sales and purchases to the tax authority, giving up to date information on the VAT owed.71 We asked HMRC …
Gov response: 5.6 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Autumn 2025 5.7 HMRC has an active exchange with international counterparts, sharing approaches and evidence through bilateral and multilateral relationships. Through this, HMRC will …
Not Addressed
#5 — Strengthen HMRC VAT registration controls and explore transaction-based reporting benefits.
Recommendation: HMRC’s VAT registrations processes are far too open to abuse, and it is not exploring options to tighten controls sufficiently. Checking whether businesses are genuinely UK established is important for VAT because online marketplaces are liable for VAT from overseas …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. and evidence through bilateral and multilateral relationships. Through this, HMRC will explore the viability and effectiveness of additional controls which could reduce the risk posed by tax evasion, …
Accepted
#51 — Incremental delivery of infrastructure projects offers better control and earlier benefits
Recommendation: The Department also suggested to us that the delivery of infrastructure has been too focused on “grand projects or big schemes that are binary—you do them or you don’t do them” as opposed to setting a long–term intent and delivering …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2025 The department is committed to learning lessons on the programme and has worked closely with HM Treasury and the National Infrastructure and Service …
Accepted
#48 — HS2 Euston exemplifies department's failure to learn from past major rail projects
Recommendation: The previous Public Accounts Committee also concluded in its 2023 report on HS2 Euston that it was another example of the Department making the same mistakes and failing to learn lessons from its management of other major rail programmes, highlighting …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2025 The department is committed to learning lessons on the programme and has worked closely with HM Treasury and the National Infrastructure and Service …
Not Addressed
#42 — Department must balance Crichel Down rules with human impact in property disposal
Recommendation: The Department told us that it is obliged to secure value for money for the taxpayer and to follow the Crichel Down rules, which require government departments to offer surplus land back to the previous owner at the current market …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2025 Preparatory work on a disposal programme for Phase 2 is already underway. As part of these preparations, the department is undertaking a review …
Accepted
#41 — Committee urges sympathetic handling of property offers back to former HS2 owners
Recommendation: We pressed the Department to ensure that wherever possible, properties should be offered back to the persons from whom they were purchased, and that requests from people who would like to move back into their former homes be handled sympathetically, …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2025 Preparatory work on a disposal programme for Phase 2 is already underway. As part of these preparations, the department is undertaking a review …
Accepted
#39 — Department developing programme for disposing of HS2 surplus land and property
Recommendation: In February 2024, the previous Public Accounts Committee stressed the need for the Department and HS2 Ltd to develop a strategy for the disposal of land and property, and to balance the need for value for money for the taxpayer …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2025 Preparatory work on a disposal programme for Phase 2 is already underway. As part of these preparations, the department is undertaking a review …
Accepted
#34 — Department stresses need for correct financial incentives in new Euston delivery company.
Recommendation: The Department also pointed to the need to get the financial incentives right in the new delivery company, including what the shareholding and financial participation would be between the different bodies, so that people consider the collective interest, not just …
Gov response: 6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2025 6.2 The department’s next six-monthly update to Parliament is expected to be published in Summer 2025 and will include an update on …
Not Addressed
#33 — Department defends new Euston delivery body necessity due to project complexity and private investment.
Recommendation: We challenged the Department over the necessity and added risk of establishing an additional delivery body to oversee the works at Euston and its surroundings. The Department recognised that setting up new organisations is far more complex and difficult than …
Gov response: 6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2025 6.2 The department’s next six-monthly update to Parliament is expected to be published in Summer 2025 and will include an update on …
Not Addressed
#32 — Department pursues holistic Euston approach, progressing new delivery company and corporation models.
Recommendation: The Department told us that the new approach to Euston is now a holistic one, seeking to build consensus between stakeholders and as a unified delivery rather than the ineffective attempts of the past to try to solve each part …
Gov response: 6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2025 6.2 The department’s next six-monthly update to Parliament is expected to be published in Summer 2025 and will include an update on …
Not Addressed
#28 — Ensure Department and HS2 Ltd secure necessary skills for successful programme delivery.
Recommendation: The Public Accounts Committee has repeatedly raised concerns over whether the Department and HS2 Ltd have had the necessary skills and capability to deliver HS2 successfully. In 2020 the previous Committee cautioned that it was not yet convinced that the …
Gov response: 5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: December 2026 5.2 The new CEO of HS2 Ltd started in post in December 2024. He has commenced, as part of the reset, a …
Accepted
#26 — HS2 Ltd fails to monitor total spending on environmental mitigation schemes.
Recommendation: HS2 Ltd does not monitor how much in total it spends on environmental mitigation. For example, we asked HS2 Ltd how much it was spending on wildlife migration schemes such as for the great crested newt at Halse Copse. In …
Gov response: 4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2025 4.2 The department intends to provide the Committee with a preliminary response in its letter to the Committee before the Summer recess …
Not Addressed
#19 — HS2 Ltd is seeking to renegotiate unproductive civil construction contracts for better risk allocation.
Recommendation: HS2 Ltd told us that it is now seeking to renegotiate these contracts.32 It considers that the current contracts are unproductive and that reset provides the opportunity for a fair allocation of risk and an opportunity to find different ways …
Gov response: 3.1 The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 3.2 The department agrees with the substance of the recommendation but will require more time before it can update the Committee. HS2 Ltd has concluded the first …
Not Addressed
#18 — HS2 Ltd acknowledges suboptimal contract risk management contributed to a £6 billion cost increase.
Recommendation: HS2 Ltd acknowledged that it has not managed these contract risks in an optimal or coherent way.30 In September 2023, HS2 Ltd estimated that the forecast cost of main civil construction work alone had increased by £6 billion (2019 prices) …
Gov response: 3.1 The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 3.2 The department agrees with the substance of the recommendation but will require more time before it can update the Committee. HS2 Ltd has concluded the first …
Not Addressed
#17 — Previous Public Accounts Committee warned HS2 Ltd about managing revised contracts and cost risks.
Recommendation: However, the previous Public Accounts Committee was clear on the risk of these changes and that HS2 Ltd needed to closely manage these contracts. In its May 2020 report it warned that: “Now that it is bearing more of the …
Gov response: 3.1 The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 3.2 The department agrees with the substance of the recommendation but will require more time before it can update the Committee. HS2 Ltd has concluded the first …
Not Addressed
#16 — HS2 Ltd revised Phase 1 construction contracts in 2020, increasing its liability for cost overruns.
Recommendation: In July 2017, HS2 Ltd let contracts with four joint venture companies for the main civil construction work on Phase 1. However, in 2020, once the cost of building the railway became clearer, it revised the terms of the contracts …
Gov response: 3.1 The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 3.2 The department agrees with the substance of the recommendation but will require more time before it can update the Committee. HS2 Ltd has concluded the first …
Not Addressed
#15 — Department manages HS2 via annual funding despite need for long-term profile.
Recommendation: The Department emphasised the need for a long–term spending profile for the completion of HS2, acknowledging to us that agreeing annual budget settlements was really poor for long–term infrastructure delivery.26 20 C&AG’s Report, para 4.6 and 4.7; Department for Transport, …
Gov response: 2.1 The government agrees with the Committee's recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2026 2.2 The Secretary of State has commissioned the CEO of HS2 Ltd to undertake a comprehensive review of the programme, including HS2's …
Not Addressed
#14 — HM Treasury to challenge HS2 revised costs before final programme budget agreement.
Recommendation: The Department confirmed that as well as agreeing a revised cost for the programme with HS2 Ltd, there will also be challenge from HM Treasury before a revised budget for the programme can be set. It told us that HM …
Gov response: 2.1 The government agrees with the Committee's recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2026 2.2 The Secretary of State has commissioned the CEO of HS2 Ltd to undertake a comprehensive review of the programme, including HS2's …
Not Addressed
#13 — HS2 cost estimates in 2019 prices are unsatisfactory, projected to reach £80 billion.
Recommendation: We expressed to the Department how unsatisfactory we found it that the cost estimates for completing the programme are still in 2019 prices. The Department agreed, telling us that it expects that any funding agreed at the spending review will …
Gov response: 2.1 The government agrees with the Committee's recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2026 2.2 The Secretary of State has commissioned the CEO of HS2 Ltd to undertake a comprehensive review of the programme, including HS2's …
Not Addressed
#11 — Department and HS2 Ltd are working to agree cost estimation methodology with Treasury.
Recommendation: Both the Department and HS2 Ltd told us that they were working together to reach an agreed methodology including drawing on third–party technical advice on cost estimation and, to ensure that the underpinning assumptions of future estimates are agreed, establishing …
Gov response: 2.1 The government agrees with the Committee's recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2026 2.2 The Secretary of State has commissioned the CEO of HS2 Ltd to undertake a comprehensive review of the programme, including HS2's …
Accepted
#10 — Department and HS2 Ltd disagree on total programme cost estimates and methodology.
Recommendation: The Department and HS2 Ltd still disagree on the estimated total costs for completing the programme. Despite using the same data, the Department and HS2 Ltd told us that estimates differ because they disagree over a range of technical factors …
Gov response: 2.1 The government agrees with the Committee's recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2026 2.2 The Secretary of State has commissioned the CEO of HS2 Ltd to undertake a comprehensive review of the programme, including HS2's …
Accepted
#3 — Report progress on HS2 contract renegotiations and plans for achieving cost savings
Recommendation: HS2 Ltd’s construction contracts are unacceptable to the public purse and it is imperative that HS2 Ltd deliver on its assurances to us that it can renegotiate these and deliver significant cost savings. The terms and operation of these contracts …
Gov response: The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. The department agrees with the substance of the recommendation but will require more time before it can update the Committee. HS2 Ltd has concluded the first phase of …
Not Accepted
#2 — Publish agreed HS2 cost estimate methodology and update programme costs regularly
Recommendation: The Department and HS2 Ltd’s failure to work together effectively is starkly illustrated by them not being able to agree how much HS2 will cost. The Department and HS2 Ltd have still not agreed on how much it will cost …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee's recommendation. comprehensive review of the programme, including HS2's current cost position and the capability and culture of HS2 Ltd, and to make recommendations to inform the programme reset. The …
Accepted
HMICFRS Recommendations (19)
FRS 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
Cause of concern: The service doesn’t have in place robust processes to ensure transformation activities provide efficiency and effectiveness. Recommendation: By September 2022, the service should put in place plans that are designed to monitor, review and evaluate its collaboration …
Recommendation
FRS 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
Cause of concern: The service doesn’t have in place robust processes to ensure transformation activities provide efficiency and effectiveness. Recommendation: By September 2022, the service should put in place plans that are designed to make sure that its processes for …
Recommendation
FRS 2018-19 CoC Recommendations: Surrey Fire and Rescue Service
Cause of concern: Surrey FRS doesn’t have a robust and sustainable system to support its operational response model. Recommendation: The service should tell the people of Surrey what benefits its service provision and ways of working in the operational response …
Recommendation
FRS 2023-25 CoC Recommendations: Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service
Cause of concern: The service doesn’t have adequate processes, controls or internal governance arrangements in place to manage strategic risks, performance and improvement plans. Recommendation: The service should develop an action plan to make sure it has robust processes for …
Recommendation
FRS 2023-25 CoC Recommendations: Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service
Cause of concern: The service doesn’t have adequate processes, controls or internal governance arrangements in place to manage strategic risks, performance and improvement plans. Recommendation: The service should develop an action plan to make sure all processes in place to …
Recommendation
FRS 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
Cause of concern: The service doesn’t have in place robust processes to ensure transformation activities provide efficiency and effectiveness. Recommendation: By September 2022, the service should put in place plans that are designed to detail in its medium-term financial plan …
Recommendation
FRS 2023-25 CoC Recommendations: Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service
Cause of concern: The service hasn’t done enough since our last inspection to address its areas for improvement and provide clear direction to make sure that its teams can prioritise work according to risk. Recommendation: Within 28 days, the service …
Recommendation
FRS 2018-19 CoC Recommendations: Surrey Fire and Rescue Service
Cause of concern: Surrey Fire and Rescue Service doesn’t use its resources efficiently to manage risk or its financial and physical resources effectively to keep people safe. Recommendation: The service should ensure that its workforce model supports its operational model …
Recommendation
FRS 2018-19 CoC Recommendations: Surrey Fire and Rescue Service
Cause of concern: Surrey Fire and Rescue Service doesn’t use its resources efficiently to manage risk or its financial and physical resources effectively to keep people safe. Recommendation: The service should ensure that its resourcing model meets risk demand sustainably.
Recommendation
FRS 2023-25 CoC Recommendations: Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service
Cause of concern: The service doesn’t have adequate processes, controls or internal governance arrangements in place to manage strategic risks, performance and improvement plans. Recommendation: The service should develop an action plan to make sure there are appropriate strategic oversight …
Recommendation
FRS 2023-25 CoC Recommendations: Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service
Cause of concern: The service doesn’t have adequate processes, controls or internal governance arrangements in place to manage strategic risks, performance and improvement plans. Recommendation: The service should develop an action plan to make sure the corporate risk register is …
Recommendation
FRS 2023-25 CoC Recommendations: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue …
Cause of concern: The service needs to improve its mobilisation system. Some long-term issues with the service’s mobilisation system could cause unnecessary delays in the dispatch of resources to emergency incidents. This would result in the public receiving a slower …
Recommendation
FRS 2023-25 CoC Recommendations: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue …
Cause of concern: The service needs to improve its mobilisation system. Some long-term issues with the service’s mobilisation system could cause unnecessary delays in the dispatch of resources to emergency incidents. This would result in the public receiving a slower …
Recommendation
PEEL 2018-19 CoC Recommendations: West Mercia Police
Cause of concern: The force does not have suitable arrangements in place to make sure it can maintain the full range of public services when its alliance with Warwickshire Police ends. There are gaps in its workforce skills assessment, and …
Recommendation
PEEL 2018-19 CoC Recommendations: Warwickshire Police
Cause of concern: The force has not yet defined how all of its services to the public will operate in the future, nor has it agreed a smooth transition to a future operating model. And it has not consulted with …
Recommendation
PEEL 2023-25 CoC Recommendations: Nottinghamshire Police
Cause of concern: The force doesn’t have adequate processes, planning or governance arrangements in place to monitor performance effectively or identify areas where improvement is required. Recommendation: By 30 September 2024, the force should make sure that: - governance arrangements …
Recommendation
PEEL 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: North Yorkshire Police
Cause of concern: North Yorkshire Police does not have adequate governance in place. Recommendation: Within three months, North Yorkshire Police should develop and align departmental operational and strategic plans that are informed by accurate information and a detailed performance framework.
Recommendation
PEEL 2023-25 CoC Recommendations: Lincolnshire Police
Cause of concern: The force doesn’t have adequate strategic plans in place. Recommendation: Within six months from the date of publication of this letter, Lincolnshire Police should develop clear and aligned finance, savings and efficiency plans to show what is …
Recommendation
PEEL 2018-19 CoC Recommendations: Warwickshire Police
Cause of concern: The force has not yet defined how all of its services to the public will operate in the future, nor has it agreed a smooth transition to a future operating model. And it has not consulted with …
Recommendation
NAO Audit Recommendations (183) — showing 50 strongest matches
Supporting local economic growth
Departments should ensure that they follow HM Treasury guidance on developing and appraising business cases at key decision points. This should include ensuring they document how they have evaluated alternative ways to deliver a desired outcome and providing an audit …
Accepted
The challenges in implementing digital change
Individual departments and public bodies should: d) carry out proper evaluation and assurance in the early stages of a digital programme to understand its complexity and scope, assess how realistic the chance of success is and reflect this in the …
Accepted
The challenges in implementing digital change
b) work with HM Treasury to review existing business case funding and approval processes for digital programmes to: remove the incentives to state with full confidence those things which are still unknown; ensure that uncertainties associated with assumptions are made …
Accepted
Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Programme
• develops a clear assurance plan appropriate to the risks and maturity of the Programme. This should make the most of opportunities for the Programme to be externally assured, such as through the Infrastructure and Projects Authority.
Accepted
Lessons learned: Governance and decision-making on mega-projects
For mega-projects, HM Treasury and NISTA should strengthen the project gateway and business case approval processes to ensure that government has assurance about the affordability, value for money and feasibility of the project before it is given final approval to …
Accepted
Lessons learned: Governance and decision-making on mega-projects
the roles and responsibilities of those who may not be directly involved in governance but are part of the broader government decision-making landscape, such as HM Treasury, cross-government or departmental programme boards, mission and leads, and NISTA, are clear and …
Accepted
Lessons learned: Governance and decision-making on mega-projects
Any alternative governance approach should also ensure that: ? roles and responsibilities are clear across those charged with governance and those involved with decision-making; this is particularly critical where decisions and accountabilities stretch across a system or set of organisations;
Accepted
Lessons learned: Governance and decision-making on mega-projects
HM Treasury and NISTA should consider using alternative governance approaches for the projects it determines are mega-projects to ensure those who have the authority to make decisions are accountable for the impact of those decisions on the project. This could …
Accepted
Progress with the New Hospital Programme
In its third programme business case, NHP should quantify the potential costs of its commercial approach, including any premium from attempting to construct a large number of hospitals at once as well as any costs to government of backing an …
Accepted
Progress with the New Hospital Programme
DHSC should urgently review whether NHP has struck the right balance in its future plans for the division of work between consultancy services and in-house staff.
Accepted
Progress with the New Hospital Programme
Senior officials and clinicians in DHSC and NHS England should urgently re-examine the assumptions underpinning the minimum viable product (MVP) version of NHP?s Hospital 2.0 design. In particular: 1) they should identify and address any proposals that are likely to …
Accepted
Progress with the New Hospital Programme
When it makes decisions about where to build new hospitals in future, DHSC should appraise options in a transparent way using the best evidence available and should keep full records of why it selects specific projects.
Accepted
Transforming health assessments for disability benefits
DWP should: c be transparent about the Programme so that stakeholders including Parliament understand what it is trying to achieve, how it is performing and its flexibility to adapt to new initiatives by publishing: data about and evaluations of the …
Accepted
Transforming health assessments for disability benefits
DWP should: c be transparent about the Programme so that stakeholders including Parliament understand what it is trying to achieve, how it is performing and its flexibility to adapt to new initiatives by publishing: regular data on the performance of …
Accepted
Transforming health assessments for disability benefits
DWP should: c be transparent about the Programme so that stakeholders including Parliament understand what it is trying to achieve, how it is performing and its flexibility to adapt to new initiatives by publishing: the metrics it will use to …
Accepted
Transforming health assessments for disability benefits
DWP should: b produce interim target operating models for the Programme at appropriate stages and continue to develop its test-and-learn approach including: putting in place the mechanisms to provide feedback to healthcare professionals and decision-makers and helping assure the consistency …
Accepted
Transforming health assessments for disability benefits
DWP should: b produce interim target operating models for the Programme at appropriate stages and continue to develop its test-and-learn approach including: setting out how the Health Assessment Service will be benchmarked and use comparative data from the interim Functional …
Accepted
Transforming health assessments for disability benefits
DWP should: b produce interim target operating models for the Programme at appropriate stages and continue to develop its test-and-learn approach including: setting out the data and evidence that the new services will need to produce to enable the test-and-learn …
Accepted
Transforming health assessments for disability benefits
DWP should: a review the Programme plan and produce an updated business case, incorporating the white paper reforms, including: demonstrating it has effective assurance and control over development of the Programme?s digital architecture, including how the Programme will fit with …
Accepted
Transforming health assessments for disability benefits
DWP should: a review the Programme plan and produce an updated business case, incorporating the white paper reforms, including: completing work to establish the criteria by which DWP will track the agile test-and-learn aspects of the Programme and assess whether …
Accepted
Transforming health assessments for disability benefits
DWP should: a review the Programme plan and produce an updated business case, incorporating the white paper reforms, including:plans for different scenarios including risks from both interdependencies and external changes such policy and legislative change. This should inform the longer-term …
Accepted
Transforming health assessments for disability benefits
c be transparent about the Programme so that stakeholders including Parliament understand what it is trying to achieve, how it is performing and its flexibility to adapt to new initiatives by publishing: ? its new business case;
Accepted
Transforming health assessments for disability benefits
b produce interim target operating models for the Programme at appropriate stages and continue to develop its test-and-learn approach including: ? testing and learning what works best for the new services between now and 2029 so DWP and contractors are …
Accepted
The asylum and protection transformation programme
use this understanding to inform its decisions and share the analysis with other organisations affected by operational changes within the Home Office to support better planning in the wider asylum system;
Accepted
The asylum and protection transformation programme
clarify how the governance and oversight of the asylum system will operate within the Home Office. Given the extent and speed of change in asylum policy and operations, and the challenges it faces securing accommodation, the Home Office needs to …
Accepted
The asylum and protection transformation programme
regularly update its analysis about the projected impact of the Programme and other policy changes on the wider asylum system and on the individuals moving through it;
Accepted
The asylum and protection transformation programme
The Home Office should build on its work to understand the wider impacts of changes to the asylum system by using this dynamically to inform decision-making within the Programme and more widely. It should: routinely collect the necessary data to …
Accepted
The asylum and protection transformation programme
The Home Office should: put in place a performance measurement system for the Programme that gives a comprehensive overview of performance across all of its objectives. In particular, in its programme reporting, it should include measures of the flexibility and …
Accepted
The Restart scheme for long‑term unemployed people
i) improve transparency of its employment support programmes. For example, DWP should publish quarterly statistics on Restart participation and job outcomes. It has previously done this for other employment support programmes and it aids public confidence and stakeholder understanding,
Partially accepted
Investigation into the UNBOXED festival
We consider it important for public transparency and visibility that this evaluation should be published and should: ? include information to allow DCMS and Festival 2022 Ltd to fully understand the volume and nature of participation for each project alongside …
Partially accepted
Road enhancements: progress with the second road investment strategy (2020 to 2025)
In preparing for the third road investment strategy, DfT and National Highways should: improve the robustness of governance arrangements surrounding the contingency budget to ensure it is used in the way intended.
Accepted
Road enhancements: progress with the second road investment strategy (2020 to 2025)
In preparing for the third road investment strategy, DfT and National Highways should: further improvements to National Highways? approach to monitoring and managing portfolio risks. This should include: improvements to the iterative monitoring of the risks identified during development of …
Accepted
Road enhancements: progress with the second road investment strategy (2020 to 2025)
DfT should work with other government departments to ensure a streamlined approach to updating and regularly reviewing the framework against which development consent applications are appraised. This will help maintain alignment with wider government policies and allow applications to be …
Accepted
Regulating after EU Exit
Now there is more clarity on demand for new regulatory functions, regulators should review the plans they developed before EU Exit in the light of what they now know about their capacity and their workload. They should test the realism …
Accepted
Regulating after EU Exit
While government as a whole is still working on its future direction for regulation, regulators need to develop, with policy-makers, their long-term strategies and objectives. In line with our principles of effective regulation, these should articulate a clear line of …
Accepted
Regulating after EU Exit
Now there is more clarity on demand for new regulatory functions, regulators should review the plans they developed before EU Exit in the light of what they now know about their capacity and their workload. They should test the realism …
Accepted
Regulating after EU Exit
While government as a whole is still working on its future direction for regulation, regulators need to develop, with policy-makers, their long-term strategies and objectives. In line with our principles of effective regulation, these should articulate a clear line of …
Accepted
Regulating after EU Exit
The challenges faced by the three regulators we have examined in detail may be similar to those faced by others across government as they develop their post-EU Exit plans. We therefore recommend that government draws on the findings in this …
Accepted
Regulating after EU Exit
Now there is more clarity on demand for new regulatory functions, regulators should review the plans they developed before EU Exit in the light of what they now know about their capacity and their workload. They should test the realism …
Accepted
Regulating after EU Exit
While government as a whole is still working on its future direction for regulation, regulators need to develop, with policy-makers, their long-term strategies and objectives. In line with our principles of effective regulation, these should articulate a clear line of …
Accepted
The Equipment Plan 2020-2030
The Department needs to develop a comprehensive and realistic assessment of the affordability of its 10-year equipment and support programme. It should improve the consistency of judgements that underpin its budget and assessments of future costs. In doing so, it …
Accepted
The Equipment Plan 2020-2030
The Department needs to develop a comprehensive and realistic assessment of the affordability of its 10-year equipment and support programme. It should improve the consistency of judgements that underpin its budget and assessments of future costs. In doing so, it …
Accepted
The Equipment Plan 2020-2030
The Department needs to develop a comprehensive and realistic assessment of the affordability of its 10-year equipment and support programme. It should improve the consistency of judgements that underpin its budget and assessments of future costs. In doing so, it …
Accepted
The Equipment Plan 2020-2030
The Department needs to develop a comprehensive and realistic assessment of the affordability of its 10-year equipment and support programme. It should improve the consistency of judgements that underpin its budget and assessments of future costs. In doing so, it …
Accepted
Carrier Strike – Preparing for deployment
d) monitor the new governance arrangements for the Carrier Enabled Power Projection programme to ensure they are working effectively. The new arrangements need to provide cross-command oversight of funding commitments, a coherent approach to managing developments, and clear responsibilities for …
Accepted
Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Programme
We recommend the Client Team: • considers up front how to balance freedom and oversight of the Delivery Authority across the different Programme stages, ensuring it has the right controls in place to manage the relationship as it evolves; and
Accepted
Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Programme
• where risks need to be taken, such as starting a project early given a wider interdependency, recognises and manages the additional risks.
Accepted
Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Programme
• establishes the processes and functions needed to manage the project interdependencies and to understand overall progress; and
Accepted
Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Programme
We recommend the Client Team: • as part of its integrated plan, clarifies responsibilities for projects and sets out the interdependencies between them. The plan should be regularly reviewed and provide a realistic view of when projects should deliver, the …
Accepted
Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Programme
• reduce the likelihood of previous decisions being reopened, by ensuring they are transparent, based on the best available evidence and making clear the cost and timing implications of any alternatives.
Accepted
IMB Recommendations (58) — showing 50 strongest matches
Deerbolt (2024)
Many ageing establishments, including Deerbolt, require significant investment for maintenance and upkeep. How does the Minister plan to secure ample funding for this purpose?
Ministry of Justice
Cookham Wood (2024)
Will the Minister examine the costs incurred by the YCS and the wider HMPPS in this project (not least the penalties incurred in terminating contracts early, such as will have been the case with Novus, the education provider)?
Other
Glasgow, Edinburgh and Larne House Short Term Holding Facilities (2020)
That in future projects, funding for refurbishment be allocated from a single budget, with one agent having overall responsibility for successful completion of the work. This would avoid unacceptably long delays occurring, such as that experienced in the completion of the refurbishment of the HRs at Glasgow Airport (see (c) above).
Other
Long Lartin (2024)
Prison infrastructure, maintenance and projects: repeat question from 2023 - to which specific building and maintenance projects has funding been allocated in the next three years and where does a new kitchen sit in the order of priority?
HMPPS
Long Lartin (2024)
Unsatisfactory management of infrastructure and maintenance: what measures will the Minister take to ensure that his department improves management of the contract with Amey plc in order that the fabric and infrastructure can be restored to a decent standard and then properly maintained?
Ministry of Justice
Fosse Way (2024)
The Board is seriously concerned about prison build shortcomings, which have been identified in the report. What will the Minister do to avoid the same errors being repeated in future builds (one of which we believe is due to open near York in the coming year)?
HMPPS
Fosse Way (2024)
The Board is seriously concerned about prison build shortcomings, which have been identified in the report. What will the Minister do to avoid the same errors being repeated in future builds (one of which we believe is due to open near York in the coming year)?
Ministry of Justice
Warren Hill (2025)
Furthermore, it would be helpful to have a definite picture of the future building works, including the proposed kitchen provisions so that more detailed planning can be undertaken. The current kitchen and rapid deployment cell (RDC) projects have been very 'stop - start'; could a detailed project plan and funded project plan be presented to the prison to eliminate the …
HMPPS
Thorn Cross (2025)
A new building was almost complete when it had to be demolished because there were so many faults with it. What lessons have been learnt to prevent this happening again? (7.3.4)
HMPPS
Brinsford (2023)
The contract for the supply and fitting of the new boilers throughout the prison was wholly inadequate. This contract failed to cover the flushing out of the old pipes and failed to fit individual thermostats to units, all adding further costs to the original price. And all at a cost to the public.
Ministry of Justice
Derwentside (2022)
Not to open a new immigration removal centre or other such establishment until all building work is completed and all facilities available for use.
Home Office
Standford Hill (2020)
The provision of on-site kitchen facilities is long overdue and would enable the prison to be expanded.
HMPPS
Preston (2020)
Will the Prison Service secure the resources for and progress the purchase of the site of the adjacent county museum building, to secure the perimeter of the prison and to open up potential for other associated possible improvements in the prison structure?
HMPPS
Onley (2020)
The Board believes that a capital bid for new kitchen equipment has been submitted, which is essential to provide adequate facilities in the kitchen.
Ministry of Justice
Winchester (2021)
Any necessary improvements that require central budgeting approval take far too long to get through the process. What is the prison service’s plan to deal with the long-standing surveillance issues which the IMB will identify in a separate letter, and the continuing problem of the defective vehicle entrance barrier? (See section 4.7).
HMPPS
Whitemoor (2021)
Will the prison service please review its approach to securing value for money in contracts for building works? Yet again a refurbishment project (this time of the main kitchen at Whitemoor) has been delayed by sub-contractors passing work from company to company until the job reached a firm whose staff did not have the necessary security clearance; the cladding appears …
HMPPS
Morton Hall IRC (2021)
Following on from (2) we recommend that the government publish data on the full cost of keeping people in detention following bail release decisions, as well as other costs such as managing serious incidents arising from the frustration of those remaining in detention. Speeding up bail address checks could reduce these costs. Such an understanding of costs would help inform …
Home Office
Hindley (2021)
The Board welcomes the announcement that HMP/YOI Hindley is to be expanded, subject to planning permission being granted. It is important that the funding is fully secured to complete the full project in a timely way.
Ministry of Justice
Isle of Wight (2022)
the importance of early funding decisions to support key infrastructure work.
HMPPS
Wymott (2023)
As noted in the address to the Minister, is the focus on building new prisons rather than carrying out repairs to existing establishments likely to impact upon the funding available for refurbishment of A and B wings and the kitchen?
HMPPS
Exeter (2024)
The Board is concerned that the refurbishment of D wing has created a number of consequential problems, including ventilation (mould growth) and inadequate plumbing. What arrangements are in place to review the approval and ongoing management of tenders and contracts?
HMPPS
Eastwood Park (2024)
Confirm when a decision will be made about future expansion of Eastwood Park.
HMPPS
Dungavel House IRC (2024)
Planning permission for the extension to the car park was obtained in May 2024 and work on this project should be put in hand during the year ahead.
Governor / Director
Deerbolt (2024)
What oversight does the Governor have over the prioritisation of works within the establishment?
Governor / Director
Deerbolt (2024)
What oversight does the Governor have over the prioritisation of works within the establishment?
Governor / Director
Glasgow, Edinburgh and Larne House Short Term Holding Facilities (2020)
That the proposed partitioning at Larne House STHF does not prevent detainees from the opportunity to socialise, during the day. We have not, however, been informed about the timescale for this work. We ask that the work be appropriately planned with clear, transparent and realistic timelines and that this information is shared with the Board.
Governor / Director
Glasgow, Edinburgh and Larne House Short Term Holding Facilities (2020)
That DEPMU undertake to provide a new Holding Room within terminal two at Edinburgh Airport (see (b) above).
Other
Eastwood Park (2020)
Due to the remote and opaque method of deciding which maintenance works bids will receive funding, can HMPPS be more open about how such decisions were arrived at?
HMPPS
Eastwood Park (2020)
In her reply to our previous annual report, the minister stated that a funding commitment had been made to develop the first residential women’s centre. Has this project progressed, and when does the minister think there will be an impact on the prison population?
Ministry of Justice
Wymott (2021)
Can Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) give any indication of a timescale for kitchen improvements at HMP Wymott (see paragraphs 5.1.9 and 5.1.10)?
HMPPS
Swinfen Hall (2021)
Will the necessary funding be made available to the prison to facilitate these mitigations?
Ministry of Justice
Glasgow, Edinburgh and Larne House Short Term Holding Facilities (2021)
That a completion date be set for the outstanding work at Larne STHF (see concern (c) above.
Home Office
Glasgow, Edinburgh and Larne House Short Term Holding Facilities (2021)
That Detainee Escorting and Population Management Unit’(DEPMU) undertake to provide a new holding room within T2 at EDI (see concern (b) above).
Home Office
Gartree (2021)
Could the Minister confirm that investment to address the seriously declined infrastructure of Gartree will continue regardless of any options under consideration for a new prison to be built within the locality, and that Gartree will not suffer in any way should a new prison be built?
Ministry of Justice
Gartree (2022)
Can the Prison Service confirm again that Gartree will receive sufficient ongoing budget and capital funding in order both that prisoners can live, and staff can work, within a safe, secure, and decent environment? The Board continues to note that other prisons have received substantial investment to improve their infrastructure. Could the Prison Service explain to the Board why Gartree …
HMPPS
Ford (2022)
Whilst accepting that the country is facing significant economic headwinds, it is nonetheless disappointing to report on the level of uncertainty in committing the funding for both day to day activities and most particularly capital projects. The reversal of the progress on the plan to replace B wing and the health centre, with completion now pushed out to 2025 from …
HMPPS
Bure (2022)
Could HMPPS explain why this work was never carried out and reallocate funding as a matter of urgency so that it can be completed?
HMPPS
Ashfield (2022)
Can the Director ensure such information is available to the Board in accordance with the fund’s local operating procedure?
Governor / Director
Woodhill (2023)
To review how capital budgets can more effectively be used to maintain the fabric of the prison estate.
HMPPS
Cookham Wood (2023)
What will the YCS do - and when - to get this much-needed and vital refurbishment back on track?
HMPPS
Wymott (2024)
Can the Minister provide an update on whether the planned new prison in the immediate locality will go ahead?
Ministry of Justice
Styal (2024)
Funding for a new healthcare building has been agreed for Styal, but we understand building work has been delayed until 2025. What guarantees are there to ensure that this happens?
HMPPS
Gartree (2024)
Which specific buildings and maintenance projects have been allocated funding for the next three years?
HMPPS
Garth (2024)
It is requested that the recommendations made in the recent HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) inspection be fully funded in order that they may be implemented.
Ministry of Justice
Forest Bank (2024)
Forest Bank continues to operate at capacity. Are there any plans to increase prisoner capacity with capital investment in new wings or an expanded prison complex? If so, what additional support will the operator be provided with to manage additional increases of prison capacity?
Other
Wandsworth (2025)
Following the UN, you advised that the Government was redirecting £100m from across the Prison Service, which will be spent over five years to deliver urgent improvements. How much has actually been spent and on what?
Ministry of Justice
Wandsworth (2025)
Will the new Government support the recommendations of the Urgent Notification Action Plan and the investment commitment made after the alleged escape?
Ministry of Justice
Five Wells (2025)
Will there be an increase in the delivery capability of the building choices programme in the future?
Governor / Director
Five Wells (2025)
Will there be an increase in the delivery capability of the building choices programme in the future?
Governor / Director
Glasgow, Edinburgh and Larne House Short Term Holding Facilities (2020)
That we are informed about the timetable for the provision of electronic translators.
Governor / Director
Detention Investigations (2)
Investigation into the Disturbance and Fire at Yarl's Wood Removal … — Rec 19
IND specifically and independently assesses whether a proposed construction material meets the particular needs of the project.
Immigration Detention
Investigation into the Disturbance and Fire at Yarl's Wood Removal … — Rec 17
IND reviews its systems for assessing contract bids in the light of the Yarl’s Wood experience. In particular, consideration should be given to bringing in independent expertise to help with the assessment.
Immigration Detention
PHSO Casework Decisions (3)
P-001071 — Department for Transport
Mr and Mrs P complain about HS2 and Department for Transport’s (DfT) handling of their property purchase between 2014 and 2017. In particular, Mr and Mrs P said DfT mismanaged their expectations about the approach to the acquisition of their property. Mrs and Mrs P also state HS2 and DfT …
UK Government
Upheld
Jun 2021
P-003525 — Homes England
Mr L complains about the length of time Homes England took to redeem his Help to Buy equity loan.
UK Government
Apr 2025
P-001364 — The Coal Authority
Mrs N complained that when she paid for a mining report in 2013, the Coal Authority did not include details of the mineshaft located close to her property.
UK Government
Apr 2022
LGO / SPSO Decisions (396)
21-013-440 — Bristol City Council
Summary: Miss X complains the Council failed to make a formal record of, or disclose, its reasons for refusing some applications for Community Infrastructure Levy and Section 106 funds. We have found fault with the Council’s actions. The Council has agreed to apologise to Miss X and make changes to …
LGO (Local Government & …
Other Categories
Upheld
Apr 2022
20-009-086 — Lichfield District Council
Summary: Mr B complains the Council has not ensured community facilities and open spaces are properly provided on a newly built housing estate. He says this means residents are living on the estate without promised facilities and with the likelihood of high maintenance costs for the open spaces. The Ombudsman …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Upheld
May 2022
24-015-028 — City of Doncaster Council
Summary: Ms X complained the Council issued a completion certificate for her new- build property which she has since discovered does not satisfy the building regulation requirements.
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Not Upheld
Apr 2025
NIPSO-202400245 — Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council didn’t properly address a man’s concerns when he objected to the building of a two-storey property. It also didn’t keep appropriate records to evidence its decision-making.
NIPSO (NI Public Service…
Local Government
Upheld
Jan 2026
PSOW-202506667 — Cardiff Council
Mr C complained that Cardiff Council had not repaired a roof leak for 2 years, leading to problems with damp and mould in his home. Mr C also said that the Council had not responded to complaints about other repairs that had not been completed. The Ombudsman decided that there …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Local Government
Jan 2026
PSOW-202508528 — Bridgend County Borough Council
Mr A complained that Bridgend County Borough Council failed to respond to the complaint that was referred to the Council by our office in June 2025. The Ombudsman found that the Council failed to respond to the complaint raised which the Ombudsman said caused uncertainty and frustration for Mr A. …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Local Government
Jan 2026
24-000-252 — Hyndburn Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about substandard building work carried out by the developer of her property. This is because the Council had no involvement in the building work and is not responsible for the injustice Mrs X claims.
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Jun 2024
23-021-162 — West Sussex County Council
Summary: Mr X complains the Council failed to utilise money obtained through Section 106 agreements to carry out the highway improvements the funding was intended for. We found no fault in the Council’s actions.
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Not Upheld
Sep 2024
24-001-693 — Dover District Council
Summary: X complained the Council failed to use its powers to ensure a project aimed at providing a public benefit to the area. The Council accepted there was fault, as it cannot now explain why it did not require improvements to the land as it had once intended. It has …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Upheld
Dec 2024
201702372 — Argyll and Bute Council
Mr C complained about the way in which the council dealt with his application for payment of a home improvement grant for his mother. Mr C had not received a receipt from the contractor who had carried out the work, so he had submitted other evidence as proof of payment. …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Local Government
Partly Upheld
Jan 2018
201701139 — Fife Council
Ms C, who is a council tenant, complained that the council failed to ensure that her new bathroom was installed correctly as she had to report a number of leaks in the months following the installation. Ms C said that she had to report a leak on a number of …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Local Government
Partly Upheld
Jan 2018
24-013-166 — North Northamptonshire Council
Summary: We upheld a complaint from Mr B about the Council’s response to concerns he had about the incomplete housing development he lives on. We found the Council’s planning enforcement service communicated poorly with Mr B, including after he complained, and it lacked a clear plan to tackle the issues …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Upheld
Dec 2025
NIPSO-202001035 — Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council
We asked Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council to refund thousands of pounds to a woman after we found it mismanaged an online procurement.
NIPSO (NI Public Service…
Local Government
Upheld
Jul 2023
PSOW-202201596 — Ceredigion County Council
Mrs X complained about the way the Council had handled her complaint about a retrospective planning application. Mrs X said that she had not received any updates or a complaint response from the Council. The Council acknowledged that it had not provided Mrs X with updates on the progression of …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Local Government
Jun 2022
PSOW-202201977 — Bridgend County Borough Council
Mrs X complained that the Council did not respond to her complaint regarding the installation of a cricket cage next to her home. The Ombudsman decided that the Council should provide Mrs X with a written response to her complaint by 8 July, and an apology for the delay in …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Local Government
Jun 2022
21-008-796 — Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council’s planning decision. We found fault because there was an inconsistency between the Council’s statement of community involvement document and its delegation scheme, which the Council has agreed to remedy.
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Upheld
Jan 2022
21-013-039 — Lake District National Park Authority
Summary: There was fault in how the Authority handled planning matters at a site close to Mr B’s home. It did not follow its publicity policy, it did not expressly consider the impact on his privacy, and it has taken too long to deal with breaches of planning control. The …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Upheld
Feb 2022
22-001-874 — Hastings Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council failed to provide information to the Planning Committee when it determined a Listed Building Consent application. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. There is …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
May 2022
22-002-284 — Blackburn with Darwen Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of his planning application. This is because his injustice lies in the decision to refuse the application and it would have been reasonable for him to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
May 2022
22-002-140 — London Borough of Ealing
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the actions of the Council’s planning department or how the Council dealt with a Freedom of Information request. This is because the complainant has appealed to the Planning Inspector and his concerns about how the Council dealt with his request for information …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
May 2022
22-001-456 — West Lindsey District Council
Summary: Ms X complains about the Council’s handling of planning matters concerning a development site close to her home. We will not investigate the complaint because an investigation is unlikely to add to the investigation already carried out by the Council or lead to a different outcome.
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
May 2022
22-001-451 — Rochford District Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a planning application. This is because we are unlikely to find fault.
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
May 2022
22-000-281 — West Northamptonshire Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that an Officer misled the Council’s Planning Committee by using a pre-application drawing of a bungalow instead of a dormer bungalow. The application was refused and therefore the complainant has not suffered any injustice as a result. Nor have I seen evidence of …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
May 2022
21-014-506 — Cotswold District Council
Summary: Mr X complains the Council mistakenly issued a Decision Notice without removing the Permitted Development rights. The Council acknowledged this and has apologised. We find fault with the Council for the omission, but the injustice is not sufficient to warrant a remedy.
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Upheld
May 2022
22-003-685 — Exeter City Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a planning application. This is because we are unlikely to find fault.
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Jun 2022
22-003-552 — Mid Suffolk District Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a planning application or the pre-application advice it provided to the complainant. This is because we are unlikely to find fault by the Council. The complainant also has the right to appeal to the Planning Inspector.
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Jun 2022
22-002-554 — Wiltshire Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a planning application for a new development near Mr X’s home. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault in how the Council considered the impact of the development on Mr X’s home. Mr X …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Jun 2022
22-000-525 — Coventry City Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a planning application for a development near Mr X’s home. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council.
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Jun 2022
21-009-487 — South Cambridgeshire District Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to grant planning permission for a site next to the complainant’s home, or its handling of the subsequent complaint. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Jun 2022
22-003-505 — Salford City Council
Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of a planning matter. This is because it does not cause Miss X significant injustice.
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Jun 2022
22-000-267 — Tandridge District Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council assessed a prior approval application for the change of use of agricultural buildings to dwellings. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. There is …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Jun 2022
22-003-882 — Birmingham City Council
Summary: The Council failed to provide evidence of compliance with recommendations previously made by the Ombudsman within the agreed timescale. In the original complaint, we found fault with the Council for assessing Mr and Mrs C’s dropped kerb application against a draft, unpublished policy. The Council agreed to reassess their …
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Upheld
Aug 2022
21-018-563 — North Warwickshire Borough Council
Summary: We found fault on Mr J’s complaint about the Council failing to properly discharge a condition about noise on planning consent. The Council discharged it without seeing a noise assessment report, failed to show why it decided the applicant did not need to supply one, and failed to show …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Upheld
Aug 2022
21-010-658 — Huntingdonshire District Council
Summary: We found fault on Mrs J’s complaint about the Council failing to ensure planning conditions for works on a site near to her home were complied with, including for a Construction Environment Management Plan. It delayed reaching a decision on the submitted Plan for nine months and delayed dealing …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Upheld
Oct 2022
22-001-326 — Dorset Council
Summary: Mr X said the Council’s failure to conclude its investigation into unauthorised works to a listed building meant he could not sell his property. We did not find the injustice Mr X claimed arose from the Council’s delayed enforcement investigation. However, the Council agreed to prepare an investigation plan …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Upheld
Nov 2022
24-001-729 — Hartlepool Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to approve a planning application for a new road behind the complainant’s home. There is not enough evidence of fault in the way the Council considered the application to justify an investigation. And further investigation is unlikely to lead …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Jun 2024
24-006-471 — Kent County Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council not enforcing a highways condition on a planning permission granted by another authority several years ago. Enforcement of these planning conditions is not an administrative power the Council has, so we cannot investigate this. We will also not investigate …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Sep 2024
24-022-745 — South Staffordshire District Council
Summary: We will not investigate Miss B’s complaint about defective building work at her new build property. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council to justify an investigation.
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Apr 2025
24-009-105 — Malvern Hills District Council
Summary: Mr X complained that the Council did not properly deal with a planning application or enforcement of building regulations compliance. The Council is at fault because its communication to Mr X was not clear. The Council has provided an appropriate remedy.
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Upheld
May 2025
201004681 — Audit Scotland
Mr C, a landlord holding a Housing in Multiple Ownership (HMO) licence, was aggrieved at the high level of licence fees imposed by a local authority which had allowed a considerable surplus to be built up and which had not been 'ring-fenced' for the purpose of HMO licensing. He also …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Scottish Government and Devolved Administration
Not Upheld
Oct 2011
201200326 — Falkirk Council
Mr C complained that the council failed to take reasonable steps to ensure that his aunt's hot water and heating system was properly maintained. He was also concerned that the council failed to deal with his subsequent complaints in a reasonable or timely manner. Our investigation found that Mr C's …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Local Government
Partly Upheld
Dec 2012
201305322 — The Highland Council
Mrs C complained that the council failed to deal with flooding risk to her croft and an adjacent new development. She said that a developer came onto the croft without permission, and upgraded a pipe (which drained his field into their drainage system) with a larger size pipe. The developer …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Local Government
Not Upheld
Jul 2015
201507720 — Glasgow City Council
Mr C began to experience an increase in cooking smells from the cafe above which he lived. Mr C contacted the council's Land and Environment Services (LES) department to report a nuisance. Two months later, he wrote to the council's Development and Regeneration Services (DRS) department to report that the …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Local Government
Partly Upheld
Jun 2017
201607325 — West Dunbartonshire Council
Mr C complained that the council unreasonably failed to enforce planning conditions associated with a retrospective planning permission for an area of hard standing at a neighbouring property. The permission granted for this area limited the use of the hard standing to uses associated with the small holding to which …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Local Government
Partly Upheld
Jul 2017
201701597 — Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership
Mr C, who is a local councillor, complained on behalf of his constituents (Mr and Mrs A) who are tenants of the housing association. Mr C complained that the association failed to fully reinstate the tenants' garden following repairs to a water pipe that was carried out in their back …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Local Government
Partly Upheld
Jan 2018
24-021-919 — Surrey County Council
Summary: X complained about the Council’s communication with them about their application for a site plot and questioned if it fairly followed its allocation scheme. We found the Council at fault for poor communication, poor record keeping and failure to demonstrate transparency with its allocation decisions. This caused significant frustration …
LGO (Local Government & …
Other Categories
Upheld
Jan 2026
202404014 — The City of Edinburgh Council
C complained that the council did not properly consider their concerns about work being carried out on a neighbour’s summerhouse by someone that they believed was unqualified. C also said that the council inaccurately stated that no building warrant was required for the summerhouse. The council advised C of the …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Local Government
Not Upheld
Feb 2026
25-006-227 — Buckinghamshire Council
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
25-014-406 — London Borough of Southwark
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
24-017-624 — Surrey Heath Borough Council
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning