London Borough of Barnet (23 000 040)

Statement Upheld Council tax 07-Apr-2024

Summary: Mr and Mrs X complained about a backdated Council tax bill. We find the Council at fault for delays in issuing the bill and for failing to inform Mr and Mrs X of their appeal rights. The Council has apologised to Mr and Mrs X and acted to prevent recurrence.

London Borough of Barnet (23 004 664)

Statement Upheld Child protection 25-Apr-2024

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s actions under its child protection procedures. We found fault because the Council used incorrect wording in assessments, misinterpreted some documentation and did not give Mr X enough time to review paperwork before a child protection conference. This caused Mr X avoidable distress and frustration. To remedy the injustice caused, the Council has agreed to make an apology to Mr X.

London Borough of Barnet (23 011 972)

Statement Upheld Assessment and care plan 29-Apr-2024

Summary: Mr C complains the Council failed to provide support it had promised and delayed increasing a direct payment. The Council is at fault for delays in sending Mr C a support plan and paying his direct payment. To remedy the complaint the Council has agreed to apologise to Mr C, make him a symbolic payment, and repay his additional care costs while he waited for his direct payment. The Council will also remind staff to send support plans in a timely manner and review how it manages direct payments to prevent future delay.

London Borough of Barnet (23 015 530)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 02-Jun-2024

Summary: Ms X complains on behalf of her son, Mr Y, that the Council failed to provide education in accordance with his Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan between October 2022 and November 2023. Ms X says the Council ceased her sons EHC Plan without an annual review taking place. Ms X also says the Council has failed to ensure all the provisions in the EHC Plan are in place. Ms X says this has caused both her and her son distress and for her son to miss out on provision he was entitled to. We have found fault in the Councils actions for failing to provide education in accordance with the EHC Plan and recommend a financial payment to Ms X and Mr Y.

London Borough of Barnet (23 012 662)

Statement Upheld Direct payments 17-Jun-2024

Summary: Mr X says the Council failed to properly investigate his complaint regarding day care costs incurred by him on behalf of his son, Mr Y. Mr X also says the Council failed to respond to his request for additional provision for Mr Y. The Council has not completed a review of Mr Y’s care and support plan since July 2021. This is fault and has caused Mr X distress and a financial injustice. The Council has agreed to apologise, review Mr Y’s care and support plan, refund day care costs from July 2022 and make a symbolic payment to remedy the injustice caused.

London Borough of Barnet (23 013 567)

Statement Upheld Leisure and culture 23-Jun-2024

Summary: Mr X complained about his unfair eviction from his allotment plot by an allotment association, acting on behalf of the Council. We found fault with the appeal process and the Council’s response to his complaint. To remedy the injustice to Mr X, the Council has agreed to apologise and make a symbolic payment to acknowledge his frustration. It will also review its contracting arrangements with allotment associations in its area at the appropriate time.

London Borough of Barnet (24 003 101)

Statement Upheld Council tax 14-Jul-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the way the Council managed changes in the complainant’s circumstances relating to council tax. This is because the complaint has been resolved.

London Borough of Barnet (23 007 820)

Statement Upheld Other 17-Jul-2024

Summary: Mrs C complained how the Council has handled waste management issues at a block of flats near to where she lives. We find the Council was at fault for its delays in progressing the matter and its failure to evidence it has considered all its powers to resolve the issues. The Council has agreed to our recommendations to address the injustice caused by fault.

London Borough of Barnet (24 000 465)

Statement Upheld Council house sales and leaseholders 30-Jul-2024

Summary: The Council delayed the purchase of Ms B’s property during the Right to Buy (RTB) process. We have found fault by the Council in the way it delayed the process. Because of the delay, Ms B suffered distress, inconvenience and uncertainty. The Council will apologise for the delays, provide a symbolic payment and refund the additional conveyancing fees caused by the delay.

London Borough of Barnet (24 007 569)

Statement Upheld Homelessness 04-Nov-2024

Summary: We have decided not to investigate this complaint about the priority band awarded because the Council has upheld the complaint and agreed to resolve the complaint early by providing a proportionate remedy.