Case Ref: 20 005 276 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Residential care

• The Council will discuss with both homes the findings from this investigation in relation to case recordings and ensure that ongoing monitoring visits for both homes covers the quality of case recordings.

Case Ref: 20 002 142 Category: Environment and regulation Sub Category: Trees

• Update its Urban Tree Policy to include a clear outline of how it will manage reports of dangerous trees, the procedure and timeframes involved
• Update its procedures to ensure it keeps records of any actions and decisions, including inspections

Case Ref: 20 001 009 Category: Benefits and tax Sub Category: COVID-19

• The Council will provide training/guidance to relevant staff to ensure they provide clear evidence based decisions in line with the Ombudsman’s guidance on good administrative practice.

Case Ref: 20 006 145 Category: Benefits and tax Sub Category: Housing benefit and council tax benefit

• The Council will remind officers to carefully consider correspondence from housing benefit and CTR applicants and clarify where necessary if they are submitting an out of time reconsideration request or appeal.

Case Ref: 19 014 814 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Residential care

• Reflect on the issues raised in this decision statement and identify any areas of service improvement. The Council should prepare a short report setting out what it intends to do to ensure similar problems do not reoccur. This report should be sent to the Ombudsman.