Buckinghamshire Council (23 012 192)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 01-Apr-2024

Summary: The complainant (Mrs X) said the Council failed to ensure her son (Y) received the speech and language therapy provision identified in his Education Health and Care Plan. She also complained about the lack of occupational therapy support for Y and the Council’s poor communication. The Council has accepted its fault and offered some remedies. We cannot look at the occupational therapy issues as Mrs X appealed the content of Y’s Education Health and Care Plan in June 2022. The Council has agreed to make a higher payment to Mrs X to recognise Y's and Mrs X's injustice caused by the lack of the speech and language therapy provision for a whole year.

Buckinghamshire Council (23 009 957)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 08-Apr-2024

Summary: Mrs X complained about how the Council handled her son’s Education, Health and Care Plan annual review process. We have found fault with the Council for failing to consider Mrs X’s comments, causing delays and poor communication during this process. This caused Mrs X and her family avoidable distress.

Buckinghamshire Council (23 008 909)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 21-Apr-2024

Summary: The Council has already accepted fault for its handling of Mr X’s homelessness in 2021. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a payment to Mr X for the injustice caused. There was no fault in the Council’s decision Mr X did not qualify to join the housing register.

Buckinghamshire Council (23 009 961)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 21-Apr-2024

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to ensure his son, Y, received any education and the provision set out in his Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). He also complained the Council failed to review Y’s EHCP between September 2020 and October 2022. Mr X complained the Council failed to send out reports before the annual review in October 2022. Mr X complained the Council did not inform him of the outcome of the October 2022 annual review within timescales and delayed responding to his complaints. Mr X said this caused him distress and uncertainty. He said Y missed out on education and EHCP provision. There was fault in the way the Council did not ensure Y received an education or the provision specified in his EHCP. There was also fault in the complaint handling and the Council did not issue its decision letter after the annual review. Mr X was frustrated by the fault and he was put to time and trouble to complain. Y missed out on education and EHCP provision. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a financial payment and remind officers of the Council’s statutory duties.

Buckinghamshire Council (23 019 991)

Statement Upheld Refuse and recycling 28-Apr-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about missed recycling collections because the Council has provided a satisfactory response.

Buckinghamshire Council (23 020 519)

Statement Upheld Council tax 01-May-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Dr X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of her council tax arrears. She says the Council breached national guidelines and protocols during its recovery action. This is because an investigation would not lead to any different findings or worthwhile outcomes.

Buckinghamshire Council (23 015 822)

Statement Upheld Street furniture and lighting 09-May-2024

Summary: There was fault in how the Council responded to reports Mr X made relating to faulty streetlights in his area. There was also fault in the complaint handling about this matter. These faults caused Mr X an injustice because of avoidable inconvenience. However, the Council have already taken adequate steps to remedy Mr X’s injustice before our involvement.

Buckinghamshire Council (23 014 189)

Statement Upheld Allocations 27-May-2024

Summary: Mr D complains that due to faults by the Council he missed out on an offer of accommodation. There was fault by the Council. It has agreed an improved remedy.

Buckinghamshire Council (23 016 018)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 29-May-2024

Summary: Mrs B complained the Council failed to complete an Education, Health and Care needs assessment and issue a final Education, Health and Care Plan for her child, X, within the statutory timeframe. Mrs B says this has impacted X’s mental health and limited the support they receive at college. We have found the Council at fault. The Council will pay Mrs B a financial remedy, complete further assessments and update X’s Education, Health and Care Plan to include social care information.

Buckinghamshire Council (23 012 371)

Statement Upheld Charging 03-Jun-2024

Summary: The evidence shows the Council based its calculation of the late Mrs X’s personal budget on a comparison with the cost of a residential care placement, which would not have met Mrs X’s needs. This also led to a care home contacting Mrs X about an assessment which caused considerable distress. There was a delay in setting up the Direct Payments. The Council agrees to apologise for its shortcomings here and make a payment which reflects what the actual personal budget should have been.