Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council agreed to support Mr X throughs its Welfare Fund. That is because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify our involvement.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained about the Council’s decision to provide him a single oven and small fridge after he applied for support through its Welfare Fund. He said he needed larger appliances because of his dietary and religious needs. He said the Council’s decision has impacted on his health.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Ombudsman investigates complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or may decide not to continue with an investigation if we decide there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. In the Council’s response to Mr X, it said the Welfare Fund was to provide basic items for essential needs. It said it did not consider Mr X’s request for larger items as essential and that Mr X could plan and cook meals without the need for a double over, and that he could store fresh fruit and vegetables out of the fridge. It said if Mr X had health needs that required specific appliances, he could contact the Council’s Occupational Therapy Service for an assessment.
6. Although Mr X is unhappy with the Council’s response, we will not investigate this complaint further. There is not enough evidence of fault in how the Council made its decision to justify our involvement. It has considered Mr X’s requests and explained why it does not consider them essential. It has directed him to its Occupational Therapy Service for support with health needs.
7. The Council has also confirmed the offer of appliances remains open to Mr X, however to date he has chosen not to accept them.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify our involvement.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman