Huntingdonshire District Council (21 007 953)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Covid-19 21-Jan-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal of an application for a self-isolation payment. There is no evidence of fault by the Council.

Wyre Borough Council (21 010 849)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Covid-19 19-Jan-2022

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council failed to properly advise him about a COVID-19 business grant scheme. This is because there is no evidence of fault by the Council and its actions did not cause Mr X significant injustice.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (21 013 458)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Covid-19 14-Jan-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Mr X’s application for a test and trace support payment. There is not enough injustice to Mr X for the Ombudsman to devote time and public money to investigating.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (21 013 306)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Covid-19 13-Jan-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council refusing one of Miss X’s applications for a test and trace support payment. The evidence shows the Council was not at fault.

Northumberland County Council (20 013 426)

Statement Not upheld Covid-19 13-Jan-2022

Summary: Mr X complains the Council unfairly refused his application for a COVID-19 business grant because his home address is outside the Council area, and this caused financial hardship. The Council’s published grant criteria required businesses to be located in and operating within the council area and because Mr X is a market trader without a fixed business address his home address was used. There is no fault in the Council’s decision to refuse the grant as it based its decision on the published eligibility criteria.

Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council (21 007 142)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 12-Jan-2022

Summary: Mr X complained the Council delayed paying him a COVID-19 business grant and wrongly refused other COVID-19 business grants, which added to the financial difficulties the business suffered as a result of the pandemic. The Council was at fault for a delay in reconsidering one of the grants after Mr X appealed and for not addressing the additional information Mr X provided at that stage. This caused Mr X injustice, for which the Council should apologise.

North Norfolk District Council (21 013 100)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Covid-19 12-Jan-2022

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to refuse her application for a COVID-19 small business grant. This is because the complaint is late and I have seen no good reasons to exercise our discretion to investigate it.

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (20 009 734)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 12-Jan-2022

Summary: Miss X complained about the Council’s administration of a business grant scheme, its decision on her application and its complaint handling, causing her distress and financial loss. We found the Council at fault causing Miss X injustice. We recommended the Council provide Miss X with an apology, payment for distress, feedback on her grant application and evidence it will carry out Equality Impact Assessments in future.

Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council (20 010 768)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 12-Jan-2022

Summary: Mr X complained the Council wrongly refused a COVID-19 business grant, which added to the financial difficulties his business suffered during the pandemic. The Council was at fault for taking too long to make its decision and did not fully explain its reasons, causing injustice to Mr X for which it should apologise.

Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council (21 001 349)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 10-Jan-2022

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s refusal of COVID-19 business grants. The Council was at fault for not giving adequate reasons for refusing a discretionary grant in April 2021, for which it should apologise. There was no fault with its decision making in relation to the other grant applications Mr X made.