Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: October 15, 2025

Purpose: On the 27th June, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) service issued a public report under the Local Government Act 1974 s30(1)) in respect of significant stress and upset caused to an applicant (to be known as Mr Y and his two sisters X and Z) as a result of the failure of the Housing Needs Service to properly administer a homelessness application submitted by Mr Y.   The purpose of this report is to advise Cabinet of the LGSCO findings and recommendations, and to set out the actions taken to date and that the service propose to take to address the issues identified in the report. 1.3 The report also emphasises the full apology made to Mr Y and his sisters (Ms X and Z) for the stress and injustice this poor service caused.

Content: For the reasons set out in the report and appendix, the Executive Mayor in Cabinet, AGREED to:   2.1 Note the LGSCO findings and recommendations in respect of Mr Y   2.2 To endorse the full apology given to Mr Y and agree the measures set out in Section 5 of the report which includes actions which are already underway.   2.3 To agree the actions proposed to improve complaints performance within the Housing department in the action plan set out in Section 5   2.4 To adopt the report as the Executive’s formal response as required by section 5A of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 for distribution to all Members and the Monitoring Officer.