Councils urged to check their parking policies following Ombudsman investigation Councils across England are being urged to ensure they are using the correct legislation to issue parking fines at country parks following a Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigation into Kent County Council. The investigation was prompted after a motorist complained the council could not help him when ...

Reading care workers late getting medical attention for vulnerable woman Care workers in Reading did not follow emergency procedures to ensure a vulnerable woman received the correct medical attention, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found. The woman, who was being cared for by Reading Borough Council’s care provider, the Radis Group, was elderly and had health conditions inclu ...

Blue badge applications to be reviewed in Sheffield Sheffield City Council incorrectly assessed people for disabled blue badges, says an investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. Following the investigation, the council has agreed to offer a proper assessment to more than 25 people and review its policies to avoid similar issues recurring. The Ombudsman’s investigation stem ...

Unfair admission arrangement changes force siblings into separate schools Nottinghamshire County Council has agreed to pay two families £500 a year because their children missed out on places at their preferred schools after it unfairly changed admissions arrangements, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has said. Because the council removed priority for families with children already ...

Guidance on remedies Contents: Chapter index for Guidance on remedies Updated: 17 March 2025 Guidance on remedies search Search this content Submit search Part 7 • Subject specific guidance - Housing Homelessness Introduction Fault by councils in carrying out their duties to the homeless can cause a serious injustice. A homeless person may be forced to sleep rough if a council wrongly refuses to ...

Council’s failure to pay agreed grant leaves family living on building site A Croydon family was left to live on a building site for nearly two years after their local council failed to pay an agreed grant on time, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found. The family, which already included three children, took on the care of another child as part of a Special Guardianship agreeme ...

Family housed in London tower block had no cold water The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has criticised a London council after it placed a young homeless family in a tower block with no cold water and a lift that only worked infrequently. The family was placed in the ninth floor flat by London Borough of Haringey after the temporary accommodation they were initially placed in was infe ...

Kettering Borough Council to review its homelessness procedures after disabled woman left in limbo Councils in England are being urged to check their homelessness procedures are fit for purpose, after the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found significant fault with a Northamptonshire district council. The Ombudsman’s advice follows its investigation into a homelessness complaint from a ...

Luton to review some of its special educational needs services following Ombudsman’s investigation Luton Borough Council has agreed to create a detailed action plan to improve some of its services for children with special educational needs after the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman uncovered significant concerns during a recent investigation. The Ombudsman upheld a complaint about the ...

Councils reminded of duties to investigate renters’ housing concerns A recent Ombudsman investigation has highlighted local councils’ duties to investigate disrepair concerns in private rented accommodation. A woman complained to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) about the way Worcester City Council handled a complaint about disrepair issues in her rented flat. The council fo ...