Overview:

Key to names used

• Ms X The complainant

Summary

We have written this further report because the Council has refused to comply with some recommendations made in our report issued on 15 October 2024. Although the Council has complied with our service improvement recommendations and agreed to make a payment for distress, it has refused to remedy all the personal injustice caused to Ms X, by the Council’s fault. We are not satisfied with the Council’s explanation for refusing to fully remedy the personal injustice to Ms X. We have therefore issued this further report to highlight our continuing concerns.

Finding

Fault found causing injustice and recommendations made.

Recommendations

To remedy the injustice caused to Ms X and her family, the Council should ensure full compliance with the recommendations set out in the original report and this further report. It should provide evidence of this without delay. The recommendations which remain outstanding are that the Council should:

• make a symbolic payment of £1,300 for the distress caused to Ms X and her children by living in unsuitable Bed and Breakfast (B&B) accommodation for 13 weeks longer than they should have done; and

• make a symbolic payment of £150 a month to Ms X for every month she remained in unsuitable temporary accommodation until she moved into a property in October 2024. This is a total of £450.

• The Council must consider this report and confirm within three months the action it has taken or proposes to take. If the Council’s officers or cabinet are minded to recommend refusal of our recommendations, this further report must be considered at Full Council. (Local Government Act 1974, section 31A(1A))

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