Case Ref: 22 017 751 Category: Planning Sub Category: Enforcement

• The Council will review how it ensures it can meet the approximate timescales set out in its Enforcement Policy and Flowchart for uncomplicated cases, including how it informs complainants about delays which may occur to limit their expectations.

Case Ref: 22 015 647 Category: Planning Sub Category: Enforcement

• Provide training to staff about the importance of ensuring planning conditions are accurate and specific. The Council should highlight the potential implications of errors in planning conditions on the planning enforcement team and the public

Case Ref: 22 014 988 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council agreed to share a copy of our final decision with all staff who work in its Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) service, and its complaints service. It will remind them of the Council’s duties under the Equality Act 2010, including the reasonable adjustment duty.
• The Council agreed to issue reminders to all relevant staff in its Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) service:that where a child’s parents or young person asks for Education Otherwise than at School (EOTAS) arrangements to be specified in the EHC plan, the Council must consider and respond to this request;that where a child’s parents or young person asks for a personal budget during an Education, Health, and Care (EHC) plan review, the Council must consider and respond to this request; andabout the importance of communicating properly with families, responding to specific queries, and keeping them updated about any delays.
• The Council agreed to issue reminders to staff involved in the complaint response in this case, that when the Council accepts fault it should consider how it can put things right for the complainant, in line with the Ombudsman’s guide, ‘Effective complaint handling for local authorities’.

Case Ref: 22 014 987 Category: Planning Sub Category: Planning applications

• Explain what it will do to resolve the matter that is preventing Mr X being notified about planning applications. I understand this to be updating its internal mapping service.

Case Ref: 22 014 122 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• the Council has agreed to report to us on:any action it has taken to address the issues in completing EHC needs assessments within the statutory timescales due to delays in receiving advice from Educational Psychologists;
• the outcome of the action it proposed to take to address delays in its complaint handling (as set out in paragraphs 64 and 65 above); and
• the outcome of its comprehensive review and reorganisation of the Education Welfare Service, and its section 19 duties (as set out in paragraph 66 above).

Case Ref: 22 011 687 Category: Education Sub Category: Alternative provision

• Issue written reminders to relevant staff to ensure they are aware of:• The Council’s duties under section 19 of the Education Act 1996 to provide provision or suitable education for children of compulsory age who cannot attend school because of exclusion, medical reasons or otherwise.• The Department for Education statutory guidance which says where specific medical evidence,such as that provided by a medical consultant, is not quickly available,councils should consider liaising with other medical professionals, such as the child’s GP, and consider looking at other evidence to ensure minimal delay inarranging appropriate provision for the child.

Case Ref: 22 010 883 Category: Education Sub Category: Alternative provision

• The Council agreed to review procedures to ensure proper consideration is given to whether it needs to make alternative provision on a relevant case which includes making clear documented decisions which explain issues and evidence considered.
• The Council agreed to remind relevant officers of the need to: record whether meetings took place; avoid periods of delay; chase to rearrange cancelled meetings and minutes of multiagency meetings.
• The Council agreed to remind relevant officers of the need to properly consider, decide,and document decisions about whether it needs to make section 19 alternative provision.
• The Council agreed to review why the complaint procedure was not followed and act to ensure the delay in responding does not happen on future cases.

Case Ref: 22 009 493 Category: Education Sub Category: Alternative provision

• Please see details on 22 009 488

Case Ref: 22 009 488 Category: Education Sub Category: Alternative provision

• Within three months, the Council will:amend its policy on children out of school to make clear that the Council is responsible for ensuring or overseeing assessments as to why a pupil is out of school, and also responsible for overseeing or arranging alternative provision.
• the revised policy should set out what officers should do when a pupil is out of school, but the Council considers the school is suitable, and it is reasonable for the pupil to attend.
• the revised policy should mkae it clear that the Council is responsible for finding an alternative school (if the current school is considered unsuitable) and for providing alternative education in the interim.
• the revised policy should set out a clear timetable for deciding whether and when its duty to provide alternative educaion is triggered.
• the revised policy should make it clear that alternative educaion should be fulltime, unless the pupil's medcal needs prevent this, and the education provided should be in accordance with the pupil's age and aptitude.

Case Ref: 22 008 489 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• the Council should review its procedures for: monitoring SEN provision has been properly put in place when a child’s first EHC Plan is issued and responding to concerns about provision;
• the Council should review its procedures for deciding whether it is required to make alternative provision where it knows a child is no longer able to attend school and making the alterative provision promptly
• the Council should review its procedures for ensuring annual reviews are completed within the required time scales and its SEN officers are aware of these timescales and their importance.