City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (20 014 100)
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s refusal of his application for a COVID-19 self-isolation grant. The Council has now granted Mr X’s application and this provides a suitable remedy for the complaint.
The complaint
- The complainant, Mr X, complains the Council refused his application for a COVID-19 self-isolation grant. He says the matter caused him stress, upset, worry and financial loss.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- This complaint involves events that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government introduced a range of new and frequently updated rules and guidance during this time. We can consider whether the council followed the relevant legislation, guidance and our published “Good Administrative Practice during the response to COVID-19”.
- We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. In this statement, I have used the word ‘fault’ to refer to these. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start or continue with an investigation if we are satisfied with the actions a council has taken or proposes to take. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(7), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
- I reviewed Mr X’s complaint and the Council’s responses. I shared my draft decision with Mr X and invited his comments.
What I found
- Mr X was required to self-isolate for 10 days following contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 in 2021. He applied to the Council for a self-isolation grant but the Council refused his application. It said this was because he didn’t meet the criteria relating to loss of income. Mr X asked for a review of the Council’s decision but it refused to change it. The Council then referred Mr X to us.
- At around the same time Mr X wrote to the Council again disputing its decision. The Council considered Mr X’s comments and decided Mr X did qualify for the self-isolation grant. It therefore paid Mr X £500.
- The Council’s actions provide a suitable remedy for the complaint and it is unlikely investigation would achieve anything more for Mr X.
Final decision
- We will not investigate this complaint. This is because the Council has provided a suitable remedy for the complaint.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman