Essex County Council (20 006 967)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 30-Nov-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about data protection issues. This is because the Information Commissioner’s Office is the appropriate body to consider her concerns.

St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council (19 016 215)

Statement Upheld Other 27-Nov-2020

Summary: Mr B complained the Council failed to properly consult those affected when deciding to expand a local school and based its decision on inaccurate and misleading information. There is no fault in the Council’s decision to expand the local school. The Council delayed responding to Mr B’s complaint. That caused Mr B to have to go to time and trouble to pursue it. An apology is satisfactory remedy.

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (19 017 504)

Statement Upheld Other 26-Nov-2020

Summary: Mrs W complains the Council failed to pay her University tuition fees although it said it would. Although it later agreed to pay, it told Mrs W it needed to reimburse her monthly payments rather than pay the full loan in one payment. There is evidence of fault as Mrs W has been caused time and trouble chasing up the Council, but this is not so significant that the Council should pay the full amount owed to the Student Loans Company in one payment.

Hertfordshire County Council (19 012 107)

Statement Upheld Other 04-Nov-2020

Summary: Z complains of fault by the Council in meeting his Special Educational Needs, causing him to lose provision. Some matters are outside the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction, and there is no evidence of fault in making SEN provision via a teaching assistant. However, the Council did not deal with all of Z’s complaint, and its corporate complaints policy lacks timescales and clear progression. The Council will apologise to Z for not responding to the complaint about the teaching assistant and review its corporate complaints policy to provide clear timescales and progression.

Leicestershire County Council (19 004 977)

Report Upheld Other 21-Oct-2020

Summary: Councils are required by law to secure between 570 and 1,140 hours of free childcare over no fewer than 38 weeks for qualifying children in their area. This is known as the Free Early Education Entitlement. Leicestershire County Council has an agreement with Kiddi Caru Day Nursery and Preschool in Market Harborough to deliver the Free Early Education Entitlement. Mr F complains he was charged a “top-up” by Kiddi Caru Day Nursery and Preschool in Market Harborough for childcare that should have been free. Both Kiddi Caru and the Council dismissed his complaint.

Hertfordshire County Council (20 003 998)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 09-Oct-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about a failure to submit GCSE predicted grades as this is not a Council role. And the Information Commissioner’s Office is better placed to decide if the Council holds inaccurate information.

Lancashire County Council (20 002 358)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 01-Oct-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the Council restricting the complainant’s contact with it. This is because there is no evidence of fault in the Council’s actions.

Essex County Council (19 019 166)

Statement Not upheld Other 01-Sep-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains that the Council failed to consider her application for free school meals properly. She says it unreasonably refused to accept evidence she provided. The Ombudsman does not find fault with the Council because it followed advice it received about what evidence is acceptable and gave Mrs X an opportunity to provide further evidence.

Liverpool City Council (19 018 175)

Statement Upheld Other 28-Aug-2020

Summary: Mr V complained the Council failed to properly process an in-year transfer application for his child, W. Instead the Council made W have a managed move to the new school, which broke down. This caused Mr V time, trouble and distress. It also caused W uncertainty whether, had the Council processed this correctly, the transition to the new school would have been successful. There is evidence of Council fault and it has agreed to apologise and make a payment for distress, time and trouble and uncertainty.

West Berkshire Council (20 001 766)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 20-Aug-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s investigation into a school governing body. This is because the matter is out of the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction as the complainant is complaining about something that happened whilst he was a member of a public body.