Cheshire East Council (24 001 531)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 10-Jun-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s failure to provide free school meals for her child, Y, between 2018 and 2020 when they were too unwell to attend school. This is because the complaint is late and there is no good reason to investigate now.

Surrey County Council (23 021 318)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 06-Jun-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about information the Council sent the local planning authority in connection with applications and enforcement action which Planning Inspectors later decided on appeal. There is not enough evidence to show the injustice Mr B claims flows from the Council’s actions rather than the Inspectors’ decisions, so the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code and it does not warrant us investigating.

Manchester City Council (23 019 956)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 03-Jun-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint. The law prevents us considering matters concerning court action. While some points might be separable from the court action, we cannot achieve what Miss X mostly wants (a Council officer’s dismissal). The Information Commissioner is better placed to consider the alleged confidentiality breach.

Nottinghamshire County Council (23 012 571)

Statement Upheld Other 29-May-2024

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council stopped giving her child, Q, free school meals in May 2022. The Council was at fault for stopping the meals. It was also at fault for giving Mrs X confusing information about Q’s eligibility for free school meals. This caused Mrs X avoidable frustration and distress and meant she had to pay for Q’s meals while on an already low income. The Council will apologise and make a payment to Mrs X. It should also issue staff reminders and update its website on free school meals.

Kent County Council (24 001 993)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 20-May-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about what happened to Mr and Mrs X’s child in a school. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. We have no powers to investigate complaints in connection with the internal management of schools.

Liverpool City Council (23 013 617)

Statement Not upheld Other 19-May-2024

Summary: Mr F complains about the conduct of an Education Welfare Officer (EWO) who he says was uncaring and unsympathetic. I ended my investigation without making findings. There is insufficient evidence of fault or injustice and nothing worthwhile I could add by investigating further.

Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council (23 021 404)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 16-May-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s involvement in Mr X’s children’s case. The complaint relates mainly to the Council’s Section 7 report submitted to court, which the law prevents us from investigating. Other matters Mr X raises are late, and in any event there is insufficient evidence of fault. We do not have the power to change the court’s decision.

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (23 021 330)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 15-May-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council taking court action against Mrs X for the payment of a school attendance fine. The onset of court action has permanently removed our legal power to investigate this matter.

Leicestershire County Council (23 020 760)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 13-May-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about an incident that led to the complainant removing their child from school. This is because the law prevents us from investigating most complaints about what happens in schools. There is insufficient evidence of fault with how the Council dealt with matters after the incident occurred.

Surrey County Council (23 020 370)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 12-May-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint that a child was unlawfully excluded from school. The law prevents us from investigating complaints about what happens in schools.