London Borough of Camden (20 006 485)

Report Upheld Covid-19 25-Nov-2021

Summary: Mr G and Mr H complained the Council refused their businesses grants under schemes set up in March 2020 to support businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

London Borough of Camden (20 009 015)

Report Upheld Covid-19 25-Nov-2021

Summary: Mr G and Mr H complained the Council refused their businesses grants under schemes set up in March 2020 to support businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

North Northamptonshire Council (21 006 915)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 23-Nov-2021

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council did not properly manage the rates account for her business, Company E, and handled her complaints poorly, causing distress, time and trouble. We found the Council at fault in how it decided on rates’ liability and how it handled Mrs X’s complaints. We recommended it provide Mrs X with an apology, payments for time, trouble and distress and act to prevent recurrence.

London Borough of Islington (20 013 445)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 23-Nov-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a business grant. The Council has now agreed to pay the grant, so there is no need for us to investigate.

Braintree District Council (21 003 394)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Covid-19 22-Nov-2021

Summary: We have not investigated this complaint, about the Council’s discretionary test and trace support scheme. This is because an investigation could not lead to a substantially different outcome, and nor could it provide the outcome the complainant seeks.

Manchester City Council (21 001 391)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 22-Nov-2021

Summary: Ms Z, on behalf of Mr X, complained the Council wrongly refused his application for a Small Business Grant. The Council accepts it knew Mr X had been occupying the premises since 2016 and trying to register for business rates. The Council has offered to now pay Mr X £10,000 to resolve his complaint.

Cambridge City Council (21 002 983)

Statement Not upheld Covid-19 19-Nov-2021

Summary: There was no fault in how the Council publicised or administered its additional restrictions grant scheme. It was entitled to review and amend the scheme, and it has provided clear reasons for why it did so. For this reason, we have completed our investigation.

London Borough of Southwark (21 010 022)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Covid-19 19-Nov-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a business rates discount. It is for the courts, not the Ombudsman, to decide whether the Council unlawfully removed the discount without notice. On whether Business Y is eligible for the discount, the evidence suggests the Council reached its decision properly.

Torridge District Council (21 010 419)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Covid-19 19-Nov-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Mrs X not receiving a COVID-19-related business grant. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s decision-making.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council (21 002 216)

Statement Not upheld Covid-19 17-Nov-2021

Summary: There was no fault in how the Council decided a business was not eligible for its COVID-19 additional restrictions grant scheme. We have therefore completed our investigation.