Case Ref: 21 009 273 Category: Benefits and tax Sub Category: Council tax

• The Council agreed to remind relevant staff of the correct process for reporting completion of new build, converted, or refurbished properties to the Valuation Office Agency and relisting them for council tax.

Case Ref: 21 008 272 Category: Environment and regulation Sub Category: Licensing

• The Council has agreed to provide guidance to relevant staff on the importance of conducting risk assessments in cases involving anti-social behaviour.
• The Council has agreed to issue guidance reminding staff of the community trigger process, and the importance of advising victims of anti-social behaviour of their right to request a review using this process.

Case Ref: 21 012 763 Category: Housing Sub Category: Homelessness

• Remind staff to ensure decision letters under section 202 Housing Act 1996 contain a paragraph informing applicants of their right to appeal and clearly state the outcome of the review.

Case Ref: 21 000 686 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: COVID-19

• The Council has agreed to review the framework contract it has with Your Choice Barnet to ensure complaint handling arrangements are included and there are ways to performance manage complaint handling.

Case Ref: 21 000 417 Category: Environment and regulation Sub Category: Refuse and recycling

• The Council has agreed to review its process for record keeping to ensure it keeps proper and appropriate records of site visits and meetings.
• The Council has agreed to review its Recycling and Waste Policy to make it clear in which circumstances it will charge for a replacement bin and repairs.

Case Ref: 21 000 286 Category: Environment and regulation Sub Category: Other

• The Council will undertake a review of its policies on tackling and responding to anti-social behaviour.
• The Council will, and without unreasonable delay, investigate whether the complainant's allegations amount to anti-social behaviour. If they do, the Council will give consideration to taking action in accordance with its powers.

Case Ref: 20 010 615 Category: Other Categories Sub Category: Leisure and culture

• The Council will: •consider the way the allotment association dealt with Ms B’s complaint. Following that the Council should write to Ms B to explain the view it has reached. If the complaint was not dealt with in accordance with the allotment association’s complaints procedure and the Council is concerned the allotments association has breached the lease the Council should consider whether any further action is necessary.
• the Council will: •liaise with the allotment association to ensure it has in place a complaints procedure which has given due regard to the guidelines for considering such complaints. If there is no appeal provision in the complaints procedure the Council should consider whether, in the absence of any other appeal route, the Council should consider any such appeals.

Case Ref: 20 005 525 Category: Children's care services Sub Category: Child protection

• The Council will provide evidence to show the Council has carried out training for social workers and managers regarding domestic abuse as it had undertaken to do in response to Ms X’s complaint. If the Council has not carried out the training it should do so and provide evidence to show it has done so.

Case Ref: 19 000 206 Category: Housing Sub Category: Homelessness

• The Council should remind officers: that the assessment of a homelessness application should go hand in hand with the assessment, personal housing plan and prevention or relief of homelessness; of the need to make timely decisions in respect of the prevention duty and issuing of personal housing plans; to take homelessness applications where appropriate; to consider whether there is a duty to provide interim accommodation; to put in place measures to ensure that medical evidence is properly recorded and passed on; and to review its practices and procedures in light of the Ombudsman’s findings.