Overview:

Key to names used

• Mr X The complainant

Summary

We have written this further report because the Council has refused to comply with one of the recommendations made in our report issued on 9 October 2025. Although the Council has confirmed it will apologise to Mr X and make a payment of £500 for the distress its fault caused, it has refused to remedy all the personal injustice caused. We are not satisfied with the Council’s explanation for refusing to fully remedy the personal injustice to Mr X. We have issued this further report to highlight our continuing concerns.

Finding

Fault found causing injustice and recommendations made.

Recommendations

To remedy the injustice caused to Mr X and his family, the Council should ensure full compliance with the recommendations set out in the original report and provide evidence of this without delay. The recommendation which remains outstanding is that the Council should agree to:

• make a symbolic payment of £3,525 for the injustice caused to Mr X and his family by living in unsuitable bed and breakfast (B&B) accommodation for 42 weeks longer than they should have done.
• 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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