Case Ref: 24 013 315 Category: Children's care services Sub Category: Other

• The Council agreed to remind complaint handling staff to progress complaints about the Council’s actions under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 under the statutory children’s complaints procedure.

Case Ref: 24 008 727 Category: Housing Sub Category: Allocations

• •Remind relevant staff to consider and evidence decision making when considering the Council’s powers to accommodate people when completing a review.

Case Ref: 24 001 743 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council will remind officers and relevant managers of the need to take a proactive stance when issues relating to a lack of specified Section F provision in an Education, Health and Care Plan are brought to its attention. This will help to ensure that provision is delivered as it should be and in a timely manner.

Case Ref: 24 008 391 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council has agreed to issue a reminder to relevant staff that, if the Council refuses a request for a direct payment, it must inform the child’s parent or the young person of the reasons for the decision and their right to request a formal review of the decision in writing.

Case Ref: 24 007 569 Category: Housing Sub Category: Homelessness

• The Council will remind relevant staff of the need to consider all points raised in review and appeal requests and indicate how they were considered in the review or appeal decision.

Case Ref: 24 006 982 Category: Planning Sub Category: Other

• The Council has agreed to remind all front-line enforcement staff of the importance of following the Council’s enforcement policy when carrying out visits, particularly in respect of the time limits for taking action and the expediency of taking formal action.
• The Council has agreed to consider after a visit, sending a follow-up letter setting out the conclusions of that visit and all options available to regularise the situation with an appropriate time-limit for action.

Case Ref: 24 002 893 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council will remind officers dealing with EHC Plans of the need to ensure the provision in a final EHC Plan is in place when concerns are raised and that the provision cannot be changed without amending and issuing a final EHC Plan.

Case Ref: 24 000 465 Category: Housing Sub Category: Council house sales and leaseholders

• • Remind relevant staff of the importance of which Ombudsman scheme to signpost to at the conclusion of the complaints procedure.

Case Ref: 23 020 077 Category: Housing Sub Category: Homelessness

• The Council will provide staff training to relevant staff to remind them of the B & B accommodation six-week statutory limit for families, and the importance of placing families in suitable accommodation. This will help to ensure people are provided with suitable interim and temporary accommodation, and they do not remain in unsuitable accommodation for longer than they should.
• Review its procurement policy with the aim of reducing the use of B & B accommodation and increasing the supply of other types of interim and temporary accommodation. Progress on achieving this should be reported to the relevant Committee on a six monthly basis to ensure democratic oversight and accountability.. This will help to reduce the use of unsuitable B & B accommodation and ensure more suitable types of accommodation are available to people who need interim and temporary accommodation.

Case Ref: 23 013 567 Category: Other Categories Sub Category: Leisure and culture

• The Council has agreed to provide a copy of this decision statement to relevant officers to ensure they are aware of the Council’s responsibility to properly investigate complaints about bodies acting on behalf of the Council.
• When entering new lease arrangements, the Council has agreed to assess the review or appeal process used by the Association (and other allotment associations in its area) and:a) consider amending the Association’s formal agreements with both the Council and allotment tenants to refer to these processes;b) ensure any formal agreements reflect the fact the Council retains responsibility to ensure its statutory functions are carried out correctly; andc) ensure any review or appeal processes are written down and readily available to share should the need arise.