Case Ref: 20 012 435 Category: Housing Sub Category: Homelessness

• The Council agreed to remind officers in its housing department of the importance of making suitably prompt enquiries and meeting statutory deadlines.

Case Ref: 20 011 145 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Disabled facilities grants

• The Council agreed to amend the wording of its Repairs and Adaptation Services policy to clarify that disabled adults are not excluded from considerations for extensions, garage conversions, and outbuildings under a Disabled Facilities Grant.

Case Ref: 20 000 347 Category: Planning Sub Category: Planning applications

• The Council accepted it did not routinely record the Chair of the Planning Committee's reasons for deciding whether to refer a planning application to the Planning Committee. The Council agreed to within three months include in its delegation reports whether the Chair has exercised their discretion and to record their reasons for that decision and where appropriate the case officer's reasons for deciding an application does not meet the criteria for referral to the Planning Committee.

Case Ref: 20 001 319 Category: Adult care services Sub Category: Assessment and care plan

• The Council must remind its staff of its statutory responsibilities when carrying out care assessments.

Case Ref: 19 018 437 Category: Housing Sub Category: Allocations

• The Council will ensure relevant officers are familiar with the Council’s guidance on assessing housing applications from applicants who have no fixed abode.
• The Council will remind it officers that applicants who are unhappy with the way the Council has made a decision or dealt with a review can make a complaint and should be signposted to the Ombudsman.
• The Council will carry out a full review of the way it deals with telephone calls and correspondence to ensure it always responds appropriately.

Case Ref: 19 011 128 Category: Benefits and tax Sub Category: Housing benefit and council tax benefit

• Review its appeals process and provide training about the retention of appeal rights while the Council follows its pre-tribunal appeal process and the subsequent impact on overpayment recovery, considering Government guidance.
• Ensure all relevant departments are reminded about the Council’s complaint policy timescales and the importance of adhering to these.