London Borough of Hillingdon (19 010 153)
Category : Education > School transport
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 19 Nov 2019
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s decision not to provide her son with free transport to school. This is because the Council has now agreed to her request. An investigation by the Ombudsman could not achieve anything more for Mrs X.
The complaint
- Mrs X complains the Council refused her application for free school transport for her son.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- We can decide whether to start or discontinue an investigation into a complaint within our jurisdiction. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 24A(6) and 34B(8), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered Mrs X’s complaint to the Ombudsman and the information she provided. I also gave Mrs X the opportunity to comment on a draft statement before reaching a final decision on her complaint.
What I found
- Mrs X asked the Council to provide her son, who has special educational needs, with free transport to school. The Council refused because her son is not yet of statutory school age. Mrs X appealed the Council’s decision and it agreed to provide free transport. An investigation by the Ombudsman could not therefore achieve anything more for Mrs X.
Final decision
- The Ombudsman will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint. This is because an investigation by the Ombudsman could not achieve anything more for Mrs X.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman