Case Ref: 23 010 908 Category: Planning Sub Category: Enforcement

• The Council agreed to review processes so environmental health officers promptly respond to reports and give updates on significant developments.
• The Council agreed to remind officers of the need to make and retain written evidence during investigations.
• The Council agreed to remind officers of the need to make written nuisance assessments and send written feedback where appropriate.

Case Ref: 23 004 611 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Other

• In this case the Council failed to work in a timely and effective way - on its on and in partnership with an NHS organisation - to address recurring concerns about a person's safety in a shared living placement. The Council should complete a review of its handling of the case, to identify the cause of the failings and to find ways to address those failings and improve its performance. It should do so in specific, measurable ways. The Council's review should also set out how it will share learning with relevant staff to ensure they are properly prepared and supported when handling similarly complex and difficult situations.

Case Ref: 23 008 217 Category: Education Sub Category: School transport

• The Council will consider whether this complaint might be a good training tool (anonymously) for those considering appeals against refusal of free school transport

Case Ref: 23 008 031 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council will review its commissioning arrangements for mental health therapies for the benefit of future Education Health and Care Plans.

Case Ref: 23 008 021 Category: Environment and regulation Sub Category: Other

• The Council has agreed to send us an action plan which sets out how it will ensure similar mistakes (in its handling of noise complaints) do not happen again.

Case Ref: 23 005 186 Category: Transport and highways Sub Category: Other

• The Council has agreed to update its website information regarding applications for streetnaming/numbering so that it is clear when it may apply an administrativecharge.

Case Ref: 23 003 423 Category: Education Sub Category: School transport

• The Council will develop and share with the Ombudsman its action plan for ensuring it has a sufficient supply of taxi drivers and passenger assistants going forwards and explain how it prioritises children on any remaining waiting list.
• The Council will remind officers and appeal panel members that arrangements such as payment of expenses / a personal transport budget, must always be agreed with parents for children who are ‘eligible’ under section 508B Education Act as they are voluntary.
• The Council will ensure that decision letters state a clear outcome. It is not enough to say an application has ‘not been refused’ the decision letter must clearly state whether the application is agreed or refused and give reasons.

Case Ref: 23 001 052 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Charging

• The Council should:a) review its current contract to make clear the liabilities of each party;
• b) remind staff to clearly explain top-ups;
• c) review the delays in the time taken to financially assess Mr D to help prevent future reoccurrence.

Case Ref: 22 017 067 Category: Benefits and tax Sub Category: Council tax

• The Council has agreed to remind all staff dealing with council tax accounts of the need to send a formal decision with a right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal when liability is disputed.