Northumberland County Council (25 000 850)

Statement Upheld Other 30-Apr-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the delay in the Council responding to her stage two complaint under the children statutory complaints procedure. This is because the Council has already provided an appropriate remedy to recognise the injustice caused by the faults accepted.

Northumberland County Council (24 008 077)

Statement Upheld Land 07-Jul-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint the Council has not maintained a piece of land. That is because this dispute about responsibility and ownership is best considered by the courts.

Northumberland County Council (24 012 647)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 27-Jul-2025

Summary: Miss B says the Council delayed issuing an education, health and care plan, failed to carry out an occupational therapy assessment, delayed responding to her request for mediation and delayed responding to her complaint. The Council delayed issuing a final EHC Plan, failed to ensure a referral for an occupational therapy assessment was made and delayed responding to her complaint. That meant Miss B’s son missed out on special educational needs provision and Miss B experienced distress and uncertainty. An apology and payment to Miss B, along with a reminder to officers, is satisfactory remedy.

Northumberland County Council (23 016 680)

Statement Upheld Residential care 28-Jul-2025

Summary: Mrs Y complained about the care the Council arranged for her mother, Mrs X, in late 2022. There was fault in how the Care Home, on behalf of the Council, cared for Mrs X. This caused significant avoidable distress and uncertainty for Mrs Y and Mrs X’s husband. The Council agreed to apologise and make a symbolic payment to Mrs X’s close family.

Northumberland County Council (25 005 413)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 17-Sep-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s delays following an annual Education Health and Care Plan review. This is because the Council upheld this part of Mr X’s complaint and has now agreed to a suitable remedy for his outstanding injustice.

Northumberland County Council (24 016 778)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 22-Oct-2025

Summary: The Council was at fault for taking too long to assess Mrs X’s child, W, for an Education, Health and Care Plan and for failing to give a potential school for W accurate information about their needs. This meant W missed out on some special educational provision they should have had. To remedy W’s injustice, the Council will apologise, make a symbolic payment and issue a staff reminder.

Northumberland County Council (24 005 804)

Statement Upheld Planning applications 04-Dec-2025

Summary: Mr W complained about the Council’s handling of his planning and building regulations applications. We found the Council seriously delayed in determining his building regulations application. It also failed to update him appropriately, did not communicate with him adequately and failed to properly handle his complaints. The Council has agreed to our recommendations.

Northumberland County Council (25 010 096)

Statement Upheld Council tax 15-Dec-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of Mr X’s council tax bill. This is because we could not add to the Council’s investigation, and we cannot achieve the outcome Mr X would like.

Northumberland County Council (24 022 291)

Statement Upheld Assessment and care plan 18-Dec-2025

Summary: Mrs F complained the Council breached her mother, Mrs B’s human rights by placing her in a care home against her wishes and charging her incorrectly. We found delay in seeking a home care provider which caused uncertainty. The Council has agreed to make a symbolic payment to Mrs B to remedy this injustice. We found no fault in the rest of the complaint. There is no evidence the Council has not had due regard to Mrs B’s human rights.

Northumberland County Council (25 002 035)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 30-Mar-2026

Summary: There was fault by the Council in failing to have oversight of alternative education when a pupil was severely absent over an extended period. This casts doubt on whether the education offered was suitable. It is too speculative to say whether, but for this fault, the pupil would have been able to engage in more education. This uncertainty is an injustice. The Council will apologise, make a symbolic payment to acknowledge the distress and uncertainty, and carry out service improvements.