Southampton City Council (19 005 106)

Statement Upheld Commercial and contracts 12-Dec-2019

Summary: The Council failed to act in accordance with the terms of its framework agreement for contracts with Mr C, by refusing mediation. This has caused time and trouble for Mr C. The Council will apologise and refer the matter to mediation.

Chichester District Council (19 012 364)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Commercial and contracts 11-Dec-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council stole his business idea. This is because it would be reasonable for Mr X to take the matter to court.

Liverpool City Council (19 000 780)

Statement Upheld Commercial and contracts 06-Dec-2019

Summary: Miss X complained about how the Council dealt with her social enterprise business. We find that the Council took too long to agree a lease for her use of its venue. This caused uncertainty. The Council has agreed to waive rental for the two years of uncertainty caused by its delay. It has agreed to apologise to Miss X for uncertainty caused by this fault. The Council has adequately explained why it has decided to charge rental for her social enterprise business, having regard to its circumstances, its procurement strategy and guidance.

Birmingham City Council (18 008 057)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Commercial and contracts 06-Dec-2019

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council’s failure to compensate her for damages to her belongings stored in a council garage which had an unrepaired water leak. The Ombudsman should not investigate this complaint. This is because it was reasonable for Mrs X to seek a remedy in the courts for the losses she has incurred.

Birmingham City Council (19 001 788)

Statement Not upheld Commercial and contracts 21-Nov-2019

Summary: Ms B complains that the Council failed to honour its agreement to allow providers who were unsuccessful in tendering for the supply of home support services to enter the fixed-price market. The Ombudsman finds no fault on the Council’s part. It did not agree to allow unsuccessful providers to enter the fixed-price market as contracts were issued to those providers who were successful in the tendering process. It offered support to help unsuccessful providers adjust their business model to deliver services in the fixed-price market. This support was offered to Ms B.

Harrogate Borough Council (19 000 420)

Statement Upheld Commercial and contracts 21-Nov-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman found fault by the Council in the way it dealt with the tendering process it invited Mr B to bid on. The Council failed to explain the first tender was withdrawn and all bids now had to be on the second tender. He received a reminder email on the first tender and an acknowledgement when he sent his bid even though this was archived. The agreed action remedies the avoidable injustice caused.

London Borough of Islington (19 009 733)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Commercial and contracts 05-Nov-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s delay in issuing a deed of variation for works to his property. This is because the complaint concerns the Council’s actions as freeholder of a property let on a long lease and such actions fall outside our jurisdiction.

Cambridgeshire County Council (19 001 348)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Commercial and contracts 17-Oct-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Organisation A’s complaint about the Council’s tender process for foster placement services. Organisation A has not suffered any injustice as a direct result of the actions it complains about.

Peterborough City Council (19 001 365)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Commercial and contracts 17-Oct-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Organisation A’s complaint about the Council’s tender process for foster placement services. Organisation A has not suffered any injustice as a direct result of the actions it complains about.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council (19 008 719)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Commercial and contracts 15-Oct-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s aborted purchase of a property she owns. This is because we have no jurisdiction to investigate complaints about the Council’s commercial activities which do not form part of its administrative functions.