London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham (25 004 759)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 02-Sep-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the start of court action and documents sent to an old address. We do not have jurisdiction to investigate the Council’s decision to start legal proceedings, and the Information Commissioner is better placed to investigate complaints about data breaches.

Durham County Council (25 003 500)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 02-Sep-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint the Council had delayed court processes. The Council has refused to investigate as the court action involves her adult daughter, and not her. There is not enough evidence of fault in how it made that decision to justify our involvement.

Essex County Council (25 003 318)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 01-Sep-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about a Council officer’s conduct. We could not add to the Council’s investigation or achieve what Mr X wants.

Brighton & Hove City Council (25 008 477)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 01-Sep-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about a report the Council presented to a court. The law prevents us from investigating matters that have been subject to court proceedings.

Buckinghamshire Council (25 005 121)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 28-Aug-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s late complaint about the Council’s handling of his child’s case between 2018 and 2019. The issues raised are closely connected to court proceedings about care arrangements for Mr X’s child. There are no good reasons to exercise discretion to investigate this late complaint now. Further, the existence of court action creates a permanent and absolute legal bar that prevents us from investigating the matter.

London Borough of Havering (25 003 127)

Statement Upheld Other 26-Aug-2025

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to handle her complaint properly via the children’s statutory complaint procedure. The Council was at fault. Despite assuring the Ombudsman it would start the procedure; it failed to do so. Miss X has been denied her right to a proper investigation into her complaint. The Council has agreed to apologise to Miss X and start the children’s statutory complaints procedure without delay.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (25 010 055)

Statement Upheld Other 25-Aug-2025

Summary: We have upheld Mr X’s complaint because the Council delayed arranging a panel to consider his complaint at stage three of the children’s statutory complaints procedure. The Council has now agreed to resolve the complaint by apologising to Mr X and making a payment to him to remedy the time and trouble he has been to.

Sheffield City Council (25 010 306)

Statement Upheld Other 25-Aug-2025

Summary: We have upheld Mrs X’s complaint because the Council delayed arranging a panel to consider a complaint at stage three of the children’s statutory complaints procedure. The Council has now agreed to resolve the complaint by arranging the panel, apologising to Mrs X and making a payment to her to remedy the time and trouble she has been to.

Lancashire County Council (24 017 112)

Statement Upheld Other 21-Aug-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained about delays in carrying out a Child in Need assessment for her child, Y and about non-delivery of social care support. The Council was at fault for failing to consider Ms X’s complaint through the children’s statutory complaint procedure. The Council agreed to apologise and make a symbolic payment to Mrs X to acknowledge the distress and frustration this caused. It will now consider Mrs X’s complaint by starting a stage two investigation through the statutory procedure.

Bath and North East Somerset Council (25 005 499)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 21-Aug-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of contact between him and his children. The law prevents us from investigating anything that is or has been subject of court proceedings.