Overview:

Key to names used:

Mr D The complainant

Summary

Mr D complained about how the Council dealt with his Community Trigger request. He says it conspired with his landlord and failed to take account of all the information or include him in the review. Mr D also complained that the Council changed the date on an email so that it appeared he sent it later, and it failed to respond to his complaint. Mr D says the Council’s shortcomings have caused him upset and distress and he feels discriminated against.

Finding

Fault found causing injustice and recommendations made.

Recommendations

The Council must consider the report and confirm within three months the action it has taken or proposes to take. The Council should consider the report at its full Council, Cabinet or other appropriately delegated committee of elected members and we will require evidence of this. (Local Government Act 1974, section 31(2), as amended)

To remedy the injustice identified in this report, the Council has agreed to:

• apologise to Mr D for the distress it caused him;

• seek to review the Community Trigger Policy and procedures with its partners, to ensure that it reflects a pro-active approach in constructive consultation with partner agencies, looking at what more might be done by any of the partners to tackle the problem; and

• ensure that the relevant officers and Members receive training on how to effectively complete a Community Trigger review so that this fault does not recur.

Ombudsman satisfied with the Council's response: 28 September 2023

Print this page