Inflexible Local Authority Funding
Over-reliance on bid-based, inflexible funding mechanisms for local authorities, preventing them from effectively addressing local needs.
Source spread
Where this theme appears
This theme appears across 17 independent accountability sources, so the source mix matters as much as the headline total.
4 inquiry recs
15 PFD reports
885 committee recs
1 CQC action
1 HMICFRS rec
1 PPO rec
24 NAO recs
46 IMB recs
1 IMB report
2 detention investigation recs
6 DHR recs
14 PHSO decisions
1192 LGO/SPSO decisions
15 local audit findings
Browse by source
Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
Inquiry recommendations(4)
MAI-159 — Consider funding arrangements for police services
Recommendation: The Inquiry heard evidence that the impact of public funding cuts fell disproportionately hard on metropolitan police services, such as Greater Manchester Police, compared with non-metropolitan services. In the event that public funding cuts are in the future considered necessary …
Gov response: Accepted in full
Accepted
RHI-20 — Flexible Expenditure Rules
Recommendation: Public expenditure rules should be sufficiently flexible so that false economies can be avoided. In order to deliver a policy objective, Departments should not be required to choose a more expensive option in overall terms because they cannot use the …
Gov response: These recommendations can be accepted in full. It is important to note that public expenditure in NI is governed by the UK Budgeting rules set by HM Treasury. These rules mean that there is limited …
Accepted
SP42 — Decisions based on assessed need not inflexible criteria
Recommendation: Lancashire County Council should review its processes and training to ensure decisions regarding children and families are made on the basis of assessed need rather than inflexible criteria such as duration or ease of arranging services.
Gov response: There are a further 27 recommendations that require delivery by organisations that sit outside central government. The government has written to all national, regional and local organisations responsible for delivering recommendations to highlight the findings …
Accepted
P2-46 — Local authority funding for security expedited
Recommendation: There must be a process to ensure that, where there is a requirement for funding to strengthen mortuary security, it is expedited and considered at the highest levels within the local authority.
Gov response: The government has agreed to accept in principle 43 recommendations subject to further work to determine the full impact of these recommendations.
Accepted in part
Prevention of Future Deaths reports(15)
Bernard Gerrard
Concerns: The coroner noted significant delays in ambulance response times, including a 10-hour wait for a Category 3 call. EMAS indicated that insufficient funding and demand are causing unacceptable response times.
Response (East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust): • An Independent Strategic Demand and Capacity Review was undertaken and concluded, identifying a substantial resource gap. • An Urgent Care Transport Service (UCTS) was established and commenced operations on … (AI summary)
Overdue
June Russell
Concerns: The coroner raised concerns about the high injury collision rate at a specific junction, noting the need for improved signage, traffic light heads, and the layout and line of sight on its approach.
Response (Slough Borough Council): • An independent road safety engineer was commissioned to conduct a full review of the junction, with a detailed report and proposals for further improvements expected within 6-8 weeks. • … (AI summary)
Responded
James Wheeler
Concerns: The coroner identified an absence of national guidance on monitoring people with refractory epilepsy, particularly concerning assistive technology. Concerns were also raised that Stockport Council did not consistently undertake annual Care Act Reviews for eligible individuals, citing insufficient resources provided to local authorities.
Response (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence): • NICE stated it has published guidance (CG137) on the diagnosis and management of epilepsies, including recommendations on sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) and risks for people with learning … (AI summary)
Response (the Department of Health and Social Care): • The Care Quality Commission (CQC) conducted a comprehensive inspection of Cheddle Lodge in March 2018, identifying four breaches of regulations, and a re-inspection in October 2019 found the facility … (AI summary)
Response (Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council): • Stockport Council agreed a business case to fund and create a dedicated review team, comprising six social workers and a team manager. • The dedicated review team will address … (AI summary)
Responded
Jack Postle
Concerns: The WGH maternity unit has insufficient capacity to provide safe patient care. Guidance for consultants restricts caesarean section availability by including a 'not as first choice' caveat, even after failed induction, without reference to clinical considerations.
Response (West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust): • A baseline audit of the Induction of Labour pathway has been completed. • The Induction of Labour Guideline is being updated to ensure the option for LSCS is given … (AI summary)
Responded
Pauline Keen
Concerns: The coroner noted there is no policy for communication between KMPT and Kent County Council AMHP service regarding Mental Health Act applications, which could lead to delays for patients.
Overdue
Matthew Dale
Concerns: The coroner identified confusion among multiple agencies regarding the funding, assessment, and provision of Matthew's care. This stemmed from differing understandings of care terms, leading to discrepancies between expected and actual care.
Overdue
Emlyn Roberts
Concerns: Significant and unacceptable delays in ambulance attendance have worsened over ten years, the coroner noted. There is also inadequate cohesive planning for both short-term pressures and long-term solutions to address these multifactorial delays.
Overdue
Mary Jones
Concerns: The coroner noted continued lengthy ambulance and patient offload delays in North Wales' Emergency Departments. Concerns were also raised about the lack of evidence of Local Authorities' involvement in addressing patient flow issues due to social care deficiencies.
Response (Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust): • The Trust stated it does not propose to take any further or new actions in response to this report. • The Trust indicated it does not believe it is … (AI summary)
Responded
Lauren Bridges
Concerns: Delayed discharge of out-of-area mental health patients was noted due to underfunded local beds and reliance on independent providers. Communication gaps stemmed from varied processes, incompatible IT systems, and no national repatriation standards.
Response (Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust): • The Trust reviewed and enhanced its daily Hospital Overview report, adding a section for patients requiring repatriation. • A Standard Operating Procedure for Enabling Purposeful Admissions was implemented, and … (AI summary)
Response (NHS England): • NHS England published renewed guidance in July 2023 to support timely access to high-quality therapeutic inpatient care. • Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) have been tasked with developing 3-year plans … (AI summary)
Response (Department of Health and Social Care): • The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) stated its continued commitment to eliminating all inappropriate acute out-of-area placements for adults. • The DHSC made available up to £2.8 … (AI summary)
Responded
Ian Dixon
Concerns: The coroner noted no policy existed between Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council and Stockport Homes for managing equipment installation requests. This meant there was no review process to confirm urgent equipment installation, repair completion, or to identify delays.
Response (Stockport Homes): • Target timescales will be developed, agreed with Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC), and published by the end of May 2024. • The progress of major adaptations will be monitored … (AI summary)
Response (Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council): • Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) stated it would collaborate with Stockport Homes to develop and publish target timescales for adaptations and establish a Sharepoint site for monitoring progress by … (AI summary)
Responded
Colin Waterhouse
Concerns: The coroner noted concerns about the impact of inadequate social housing on a palliative care patient's health and wellbeing, highlighting the lack of support services to assist with rehousing and the difficulties of the digital bidding process for alternative accommodation.
Response (DLUHC): • Officials shared the report's findings with the Regulator for Social Housing for consideration. • The government increased flexibilities for councils to use Right to Buy receipts and confirmed £450 … (AI summary)
Responded
Martyn Stringer
Concerns: The coroner noted the unavailability of beds for individuals requiring compulsory detention under the Mental Health Act, leading to a patient not receiving an admission that was considered highly likely to have prevented their subsequent actions.
Response (NHS England): • NHS England has invested an additional £2.3 billion in mental health services from 2019/20 to 2023/24 and made a further £1.6 billion available via the Better Care Fund from … (AI summary)
Responded
Joanita Nalubowa
Concerns: The coroner identified concerns regarding the rigidity and lack of flexibility in aftercare criteria for individuals detained under the Mental Health Act where Section 117 does not apply, noting this can lead to unsuitable accommodation and a risk of future deaths. It was suggested decision makers be given greater discretion in such circumstances.
Response (MHCLG): • The department will write to local authorities to remind them of their statutory duties and the importance of using discretion when assessing applications for vulnerable individuals. • The Government … (AI summary)
Responded
Barry Myers
Concerns: Insufficient funding at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust limits the availability of urgent mechanical thrombectomy services between 4 pm and 8 am.
Response (NHS England): • University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSx) has commenced recruitment for interventional radiology nursing posts to expand service operating hours. • NHS England has funded the purchase of a … (AI summary)
Response (University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust): • The Trust has established 24/7 mutual aid pathways with University College London Hospital and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust for out-of-hours mechanical thrombectomy services. • A business case … (AI summary)
Responded
John Alston
Concerns: The coroner noted confusion regarding which Integrated Care Board was responsible for commissioning a patient's care, leading to delays in securing appropriate placements and accessing necessary funding. This reactive process for determining ICB responsibility could delay essential care or changes in future cases.
Response (NHS England): • Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (LSC ICB) commissioned and published a Safeguarding Adults Review (SAR). • LSC ICB convened a task and finish group, implemented a multi-agency … (AI summary)
Responded
Select committee recommendations(885)— showing 50 strongest matches
#145 —
Recommendation: Where there is a model in place for cost recovery through the planning process, the Government should provide up front funding to local planning authorities to undertake mitigation activity. This could be repaid through the creation of a local credit …
Response attribution not verified
#134 —
Recommendation: The disparity in providing additional support between those areas impacted by nutrient and water neutrality is both unfair and illogical. Given the proliferation of new advice, ensuring early understanding and solutions are available could have wide reaching benefits.
Response attribution not verified
#133 —
Recommendation: We welcome the Government taking steps to address the funding shortfall in local authority planning departments. The Government should complete its proposed fees review within the next 12 months to provide greater long-term certainty for planning departments and applicants. The …
Response attribution not verified
#130 —
Recommendation: All LPAs affected by Natural England’s nutrient neutrality advice received additional funding from the Government, but not those impacted by water neutrality. 174 Water neutrality advice impacts development beyond housing—it relates to all development including the building of new schools—and …
Response attribution not verified
#128 —
Recommendation: New regulations and burdens can be difficult for local planning authorities (LPAs) to meet without additional resources.
Response attribution not verified
#125 —
Recommendation: The Government told us that the funding shortfall for planning application services is “estimated to be in the region of £225 million annually”. 165 Where funding to recruit is available it can be difficult to attract applicants: one council had …
Response attribution not verified
#36 —
Recommendation: The Government should complete its proposed fees review within the next 12 months to provide greater long-term certainty for planning departments and applicants. The proposed skills and resources strategy should be published by the end of 2023.
Response attribution not verified
#35 —
Recommendation: We welcome the Government taking steps to address the funding shortfall in local authority planning departments.
Response attribution not verified
#4 —
Recommendation: Too many local planning authorities do not have an up-to-date local plan. Given the importance of local plans in balancing ambitions for development and the need to protect the environment, the Government should ensure that all local planning authorities have …
Response attribution not verified
#24 —
Recommendation: When regulators are given additional responsibilities, they should publish an assessment of the resources necessary to fulfil them and whether they currently have sufficient capacity. If this assessment shows that the regulator does not have the necessary resources or the …
Gov response: 27. HoL
Position Not Stated
#23 —
Recommendation: When carrying out Public Body Reviews of each regulator, the Government should publish an assessment of whether the regulator has the necessary resources to carry out its functions. As part of these reviews, the Government should consider and assess whether …
Response attribution not verified
#22 —
Recommendation: We are concerned that a number of regulators appear not to have sufficient resources to carry out their existing functions effectively, while others have had their responsibilities extended without an increase in resources to match. Regulators cannot regulate efficiently and …
Response attribution not verified
#175 —
Recommendation: Parish and town councils that can demonstrate appropriate maturity in their financial management should be eligible to bid for Government funding directly. 286 National Audit Office, Levelling up funding to local government , HC 191, Session 2023–24 (17 November 2023): …
Response attribution not verified
#161 —
Recommendation: Whilst it is too early to assess the outcomes of the Government’s Long-Term Plan for Towns, the inclusion of revenue funding is an improvement to the previous funding programmes. We are supportive of the Government’s plans to continue the Long- …
Response attribution not verified
#158 —
Recommendation: The previous Government’s Long-Term Plan for Towns (LTPT), published in October 2023, responded to the criticisms about a lack of resource funding. In total, the LTPT provides £1.5 billion of endowment style funding over 10 years to 75 towns across …
Response attribution not verified
#156 —
Recommendation: Witnesses criticised the previous Government’s programmes for focusing on capital funding support and argued that greater access to revenue funding would have been useful. Brighton & Hove City Council stated that revenue-funded initiatives “typically have a quicker impact on high …
Response attribution not verified
#117 —
Recommendation: The Government should seek to legislate to allow markets operated by local authorities outside London access to the same level of business rates relief available to those markets operated by local authorities within London. Ownership and tenancies Who owns the …
Response attribution not verified
#116 —
Recommendation: We welcome the Government’s commitment to reconsidering the business rates system. The conclusions of this work should be announced by the end of 2025. As part of the review , the Government should consider and simplify the range of business …
Response attribution not verified
#115 —
Recommendation: In the Labour Party Manifesto, published ahead of the 2024 General Election, it committed to reviewing the business rates system, identifying that the current approach “disincentivises investment, creates uncertainty and places an undue burden on our high streets.” 235 In …
Response attribution not verified
#114 —
Recommendation: We received a wide range of suggestions for reforming the business rates system. This included introducing a dedicated hospitality sector multiplier, 230 extending relief and removing the cap on access to reliefs, 231 extending empty rates relief, 232 a reduction …
Response attribution not verified
#113 —
Recommendation: Regarding the specific impact on high streets, we heard that the business rates system “penalises town centre uses compared with out-of-town premises” as rateable values (used to calculate the amount of business rates owed) are often far lower in out-of-town …
Response attribution not verified
#112 —
Recommendation: The Local Government Association criticised the current centralised approach to relief schemes, suggesting that it is “not targeted” and that “if local authorities had more discretion … They would be able to help local and independent businesses”. 220 Businesses in …
Response attribution not verified
#111 —
Recommendation: Businesses have been critical of the scale of rates, with the Shopkeepers ’ Campaign describing them as “unsustainably high”, 213 and RICS told us their members “consistently tell us that high levels of business rates are the number one barrier …
Response attribution not verified
#110 —
Recommendation: Business rates are levied on all commercial properties and are the product of each property’s rateable value (assigned based on the annual rent of the property) and the ‘multiplier’ (set by the Government). Following the Non-Domestic Rating Act 2023, a …
Response attribution not verified
#48 —
Recommendation: Parish and town councils that can demonstrate appropriate maturity in their financial management should be eligible to bid for Government funding directly. (Paragraph 175) < Back Next > © Parliamentary copyright 2024 A-Z index Glossary Contact us Freedom of Information …
Response attribution not verified
#46 —
Recommendation: We consider there is still an appropriate role for bidding processes in allocating funding to local authorities, where it is not overly onerous and serves a clear purpose.
Response attribution not verified
#39 —
Recommendation: The previous Government’s ‘funding simplification doctrine’ is a sensible approach and should be expanded to all local authorities in receipt of more than one funding stream seeking to revive high streets and town centres. This should be introduced for the …
Response attribution not verified
#38 —
Recommendation: The range of different Government programmes which provide funding to local authorities, with similar but slightly different purposes, is confusing and indicates a historic lack of policy clarity.
Response attribution not verified
#26 —
Recommendation: The Government should seek to legislate to allow markets operated by local authorities outside London access to the same level of business rates relief available to those markets operated by local authorities within London.
Response attribution not verified
#25 —
Recommendation: We welcome the Government’ s commitment to reconsidering the business rates system. The conclusions of this work should be announced by the end of
Response attribution not verified
#4 —
Recommendation: We are concerned that the ongoing inability of the Executive to agree a budget is preventing vital investment in areas that are fundamental to supporting growth in the Northern Ireland economy. This risks entrenching long term economic barriers and disadvantaging …
Response status not verified
#3 —
Recommendation: The instability of the Executive has been raised as a significant constraint on economic growth in Northern Ireland, delaying critical economic and infrastructure decisions, and undermining business and investor confidence. Northern Ireland’s inadequate infrastructure and ongoing skills challenges are persistent …
Response status not verified
#52 —
Recommendation: Administrative and audit requirements imposed on providers further damage their economic viability and are disproportionate for established providers. Practitioners under the legal aid scheme are required to undertake significant tasks to fulfil audit and contractual requirements which are unpaid. (Conclusion, …
Response status not verified
#45 —
Recommendation: To preserve the principle of equality of arms, legal aid barristers should be paid comparable rates to state barristers in claims against public authorities. In order to prevent cannibalisation from other civil legal aid fee schemes, non-inquest categories must also …
Response status not verified
#46 —
Recommendation: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government must commit to restoring the funding for public libraries that has been lost since 2010 by the end of this Parliament. They should also …
Response status not verified
#29 —
Recommendation: The government must ensure the fees landlords need to pay to register on the Private Rented Sector Database are sufficient to fund a substantial increase in local authority capacity. The government should then use this income to provide an annual …
Response status not verified
#28 —
Recommendation: Councils need sustainable, predictable sources of revenue to fund a much- need expansion of regulatory activity. In principle, our view is that the costs of regulating the private rented sector should be borne by all landlords, not just those who …
Response status not verified
#23 —
Recommendation: The government should provide local authorities and strategic authorities with a ring-fenced portion of the fees from the Private Rented Sector Database to support them to adopt initiatives, such as the Good Landlords Charter, that help tackle unintentional non-compliance among …
Response status not verified
#9 —
Recommendation: The government must ensure local authorities are adequately resourced to ensure landlords comply with the new standard. More detail on this is set out in Chapter 5. (Recommendation, Paragraph 54)
Response status not verified
#20 —
Recommendation: At the local level, it has discussions with mayors and local councils about specific stations or corridors, integration with local transport and development plans, and local funding contributions.41 The NAO reported the Department has signed agreements with individual combined authorities …
Response status not verified
#11 —
Recommendation: The Department told us that local places could also top up the funding from central government.19 We asked how the Department was supporting local funding contributions and ensuring areas less able to mobilise funds are not left behind. The Department …
Response status not verified
#15 —
Recommendation: The funding profile for CtW exposes some rigidity in how departmental resources are being managed across financial years, particularly where delivery does not align with planned timelines. The indication that any unspent funding from delays to Connect to Work would …
Response status not verified
#35 —
Recommendation: Enabling full cross-border enforcement will only be effective if licensing authorities have the capacity and incentives to undertake it. The government should address the current mismatch between enforcement responsibilities and funding by enabling licensing authorities to recover the costs of …
Response status not verified
#33 —
Recommendation: Many licensing authorities lack the resources and capacity to carry out effective enforcement. Enforcement officers are not able to take action against all taxi and private hire activity in their area. Cooperation between licensing authorities can be a positive step …
Response status not verified
#10 —
Recommendation: The government must provide local authorities with the necessary clarity for future borrowing by extending the Housing Revenue Account rate of borrowing from the Public Works Loan Board at least two years into the future on a rolling basis. (Recommendation, …
Response status not verified
#23 —
Recommendation: Although the Ministry has set out the areas of local government funding that central government will refund, this does not include all of the detail needed to give local authorities clarity. For instance, on homelessness and rough sleeping it is …
Response status not verified
#22 —
Recommendation: Local authorities’ budgets are under more pressure than ever as a result of COVID-19, and many local authorities are concerned that they are not getting the financial support that they need from central government.55 The Local Government Association told us …
Response status not verified
#8 —
Recommendation: Central government has not given local authorities the clarity or support they need over longer-term funding. Central government promised that local authorities would have the resources they needed to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, but many local authorities are facing …
Response status not verified
#24 —
Recommendation: If the Government’s intention is that the Right to Buy should both give people an opportunity to own their homes, but also to provide resources which will then be reinvested into social housing to ensure one-to-one replacements, then consideration must …
Response attribution not verified
#21 —
Recommendation: Local authorities should receive 100 per cent of Right to Buy receipts. The time limit for using these receipts to fund a replacement should be extended to five years, rather than three. Councils should also be allowed to combine receipts …
Response attribution not verified
CQC inspection actions(1)
PPO death in custody recommendations(1)
NAO audit recommendations(24)
Implementing statutory biodiversity net gain
On facilitating local delivery, Defra should: ensure local authorities have sufficient and timely funding certainty to allow longer-term planning;
Accepted
Local government financial sustainability
As part of the spending review, and to support a cross-departmental approach, we recommend that HM Treasury: incentivise government departments to invest in preventative services to deliver better outcomes and improved value for money
Accepted
Local government financial sustainability
We recommend that MHCLG: as a matter of urgency, work with DfE to support local authorities to sustainably manage their dedicated schools grant and address the cumulative deficits before the statutory override ends on 31 March 2026.
Accepted
Local government financial sustainability
As part of the spending review, and to support a cross-departmental approach, we recommend that HM Treasury: work to provide a spending framework that supports the government?s plans for local government funding and service reform
Accepted
Local government financial sustainability
We recommend that MHCLG: work with the local government sector to improve the transparency and consistency of local authority reporting on reserves to aid understanding of local authorities? overall financial positions;
Accepted
Local government financial sustainability
We recommend that MHCLG: explore how the impact of preventative services can be evaluated and incentivised to deliver better outcomes and improved value for money
Accepted
Local government financial sustainability
We recommend that MHCLG build on recent announcements to develop a whole-system approach to local government financial sustainability. This approach would consider interdependencies and consequences across services and departmental boundaries and should be underpinned by clear expectations of local government. …
Accepted
Local government financial sustainability
We recommend that MHCLG build on recent announcements to develop a whole-system approach to local government financial sustainability. This approach would consider interdependencies and consequences across services and departmental boundaries and should be underpinned by clear expectations of local government. …
Accepted
The condition and maintenance of local roads in England
To improve its approach to funding local road maintenance, DfT should consolidate the number of shorter-term funds through which local authorities receive funding for road maintenance. This should include consolidating funding pots that use similar mechanisms to allocate funds.
Accepted
Implementing statutory biodiversity net gain
use monitoring information on the biodiversity units market to identify any differential regional impacts of the policy, such as local authorities less engaged with the policy, and target support to them; and
Accepted
School funding in England
d) Take action to help mainstream schools deal with high-needs cost pressures. The Department needs to complete its review of support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities and set out how it will improve this aspect of the …
Accepted
Local government finance in the pandemic
g) In time to be of use to authorities’ 2022-23 budget-setting processes the Department and HM Treasury should produce a long-term financial plan for the sector that: • sets out when the various paused elements of the local government finance …
Accepted
Local government finance in the pandemic
f) The Department, supported by the rest of government, should carry out a review of the lessons from the pandemic in order to understand better the information it needs to manage financial risk in the sector, including: • the Department’s …
Accepted
Local government finance in the pandemic
To address long-standing issues and ensure the government and the sector are prepared for the future: e) the Department, working with other departments, should focus more fully on risks to service sustainability. Government, led by the Department should: • assess …
Accepted
Local government finance in the pandemic
d) In recognition that the sector remains under significant financial stress in the short term, the Department should: • maintain its exceptional support offer, with appropriate capacity within the Department to ensure timely consideration of requests; and • consider how …
Accepted
Local government finance in the pandemic
c) the Department and HM Treasury should explore how to provide the sector with greater clarity over future funding both during the pandemic and the recovery including: • signalling clearly on a timely basis the likelihood of further funding or …
Accepted
The effectiveness of government in tackling homelessness
As part of the next spending review, and to support a cross-cutting approach to tackling homelessness, we recommend that HM Treasury should review and seek to simplify cross-departmental funding for homelessness.
Accepted
NHS Financial Management and Sustainability
To facilitate greater efforts at medium- and longer-term financial planning, DHSC and NHSE should propose to HM Treasury ways to deploy more health funding on a longer timeframe than annual allocation and planning cycles allow. Remedies could include greater flexibility …
Accepted
Active Travel in England
DfT should: c. develop a more stable funding environment for local authorities delivering active travel interventions by working with others in government. This would help local authorities to invest in plans and resources and deliver interventions more efficiently;
Accepted
Improving Broadband
e) set out how it will retain local body expertise in a centralised procurement model, including how it will mitigate the risk of financial pressures on local government leading to broadband teams being disbanded;
Partially accepted
The adult social care market in England
c) in conjunction with the Ministry, Department for Work & Pensions and local government, develop a cross-government strategy for the range of accommodation and housing needed for people with care needs, and how to fund it;
Rejected
Local government finance in the pandemic
h) In preparation for, and to mitigate the impacts of, future pandemics or similar crises, the Department needs to: • incorporate an assessment of the sector’s resilience to a future pandemic or similar crisis as part of its ongoing monitoring …
Accepted
Supporting disadvantaged families through free early education and childcare entitlements in England
The Department should identify how it can best incentivise the provision of sufficient high-quality entitlement places in deprived areas. This should include reviewing the effectiveness of the existing supplement arrangements and establishing why local authorities are making only limited use …
Partially accepted
Tackling serious and organised crime
The Department’s work to change how it funds efforts to tackle serious and organised crime should focus on streamlining processes and giving greater certainty to organisations. Funding for serious and organised crime comes from multiple sources that are subject to …
Accepted
IMB individual recommendations(46)
Bure (2025)
Why are training prisons such as Bure being subject to significant budget cuts in education, including workshops, when the likely impact is a narrower breadth of curriculum and fewer opportunities for purposeful activities?
Ministry of Justice
Noted
Stocken (2020)
Prisons which reduce their capacity to take prisoners for resettlement preparation should have their funds redirected to prisons such as Stocken which increasingly has to fulfil a role for which it is not adequately funded.
HMPPS
In Progress
Stoke Heath (2023)
Can the overall HMPPS budget be increased to enable prisoner wages to rise in line with inflation so that they can afford everyday essentials and have less chance of getting into debt?
HMPPS
Oakwood (2025)
There is only one Neurodiversity Coordinator (appointed by the Ministry of Justice) to each prison in England, including HMP Oakwood, irrespective of its population and need. HMP Oakwood’s neurodiversity coordinator currently estimates that it has 900 neurodiverse prisoners (40%). Can the Minister review the neurodiversity funding for individual prisons to support their specific needs and size of population?
Ministry of Justice
Eastwood Park (2025)
Elsewhere in the public sector, establishments receive an annual devolved budget to undertake routine maintenance and minor capital works. Such budgets provide excellent value and outcomes. Why can prisons not receive a similar devolved budget for Governors to manage directly on locally determined priorities?
HMPPS
Implemented
Wealstun (2020)
Ensure that funding for prisons is sufficient to allow full regimes to be provided to all prisoners, officer training requirements to be met and the prison to be able to support prisoners’ rehabilitation, to enable their successful resettlement.
Ministry of Justice
Implemented
Stafford (2020)
As in previous years, will HMPPS review: The budget needed in view of the extra pressure put on prison resources by an elderly population; in order to create and maintain specialist facilities and activities for those unable to perform paid work
HMPPS
In Progress
Stafford (2020)
As in previous years, will HMPPS review: The budget available to the Governor for resident pay and ensure that it recognises that HMP Stafford, once again, achieved a high level of employment/education attendance amongst its population yet could not match the pay rates offered in private prisons
HMPPS
In Progress
Hollesley Bay (2021)
To allow Governors of prisons greater budgetary flexibility to meet the priorities of their prison.
HMPPS
Brixton (2021)
Prisoner pay varies across the estate depending on the other pressures on a prison’s budget. This should be reviewed so that a standard amount can be provided across the estate, to match the standard costs of items available through canteen and of telephone calls.
HMPPS
Rejected
Wayland (2022)
The Board believes that the Prison Service needs to shoulder its responsibilities to work with other government departments to provide the accommodation to allow the Governor and her staff to do the job expected of them.
HMPPS
Littlehey (2022)
Does the minister acknowledge this situation and will funding for it be provided?
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Bristol (2022)
Will there be any financial support provided to prisons to cope with the rapidly increasing cost of living and increasing energy cost pressures?
Ministry of Justice
Preston (2023)
To adjust the prisons’ budget, so that minor capital items could be purchased during the year to ensure that more money is not spent on hiring essential items than the cost of purchasing them.
HMPPS
Humber (2023)
The Board would like to ask the Minister when sufficient resources will be made available to the establishment to ensure this work can continue and be developed.
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Hindley (2023)
The prison continues to progress plans for significant expansion and on-site work is imminent. Current national financial constraints mean that there is no available funding to upgrade or improve the existing older, cramped accommodation to an acceptable level. The Board are concerned that the current two-tier standard of accommodation, once new work commences, will effectively establish a three-tier standard of …
HMPPS
Partially Accepted
Wealstun (2024)
How will the Minister ensure that budgets for prisons include sufficient funding to meet the additional costs caused by the increase in prison population, early release scheme and considerable churn of prisoners?
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Stocken (2024)
As the prison still continues to release prisoners back into the community despite it not being a resettlement prison, what is the Prison Service doing about funding this activity?
HMPPS
In Progress
Morton Hall (2024)
Can the Minister consider how to address the additional impact on the prison resource from the increase in the number of prisoners declaring a disability (5.4.6)? Will this be a priority for increased funding?
Ministry of Justice
Implemented
Usk and Prescoed (2025)
The ageing population at HMP Usk presents several challenges. The increased demand for both general and palliative healthcare will necessitate additional resources and funding, such as expanded weekend services and more staff allocated to hospital escorts. Furthermore, the current infrastructure at HMP Usk is not well suited to the needs of older individuals. What specific measures are being considered to …
HMPPS
In Progress
Wayland (2020)
Healthcare appointment ‘did not attends’ (DNAs): The Board has obtained analyses of healthcare appointment DNAs revealing a percentage failure to attend of up to 55% for dentistry and almost 30% for nurse practitioners. These are unacceptable figures and represent a serious waste not only of resources, but also of opportunities not taken to improve prisoners’ health. The Board believes that …
Governor / Director
Warren Hill (2020)
The Board trusts that the creative experiences which provide developmental opportunities for prisoners will continue to be funded, at a time when such funding is in crisis as a result of the COVID-19 emergency.
HMPPS
Implemented
Warren Hill (2020)
The Board asks that consideration be given to this issue [Warren Hill not funded as a resettlement prison].
HMPPS
Implemented
Thorn Cross (2020)
As we highlighted last year, the relatively high cost of telephone calls remains an issue. This has an impact on prisoners’ ability to maintain contact with their families.
Ministry of Justice
Partially Accepted
Stafford (2020)
Will the Governor Continue to explore ways of increasing residents pay from their current extremely low levels
Governor / Director
Stafford (2020)
Will the Minister ensure that HMPPS deliver to the prison suitable financial resources to enable it to fulfil its resettlement requirements in the absence of them providing any other working solution
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Garth (2021)
There is a growing number of older prisoners, many of whom are in need of mobility and other aids. Presently there is confusion about who should provide these aids and this matter needs urgent attention because it impacts increasingly upon budgets.
HMPPS
In Progress
Thorn Cross (2022)
To ensure that the prison budget keeps pace with the inflationary pressures, which are now being felt (5.1.5).
Other
In Progress
Preston (2022)
Preston is a well-run prison but valiant attempts to improve conditions in this Victorian edifice have only ameliorated conditions and regional investment has been piece-meal. HMP Preston requires a significant injection of funding. In particular major investment is required to purchase the county museum which form the boundary to the prison. This would allow the totally inadequate space in reception …
Ministry of Justice
Dartmoor (2022)
What specific actions are planned to enable Dartmoor to achieve the same basic standards achieved in most other prisons so that prisoners are not disadvantaged compared to the rest of the estate? Will this include funding next year for in-cell telephony, BWVC, replacement showers on all wings, new TV infrastructure, central laundry facilities, and fixes to damp/leaking buildings?
HMPPS
Wormwood Scrubs (2023)
The Minister should provide confirmation that adequate funding for Citizens Advice will be provided in future years.
Ministry of Justice
Grendon (2023)
The Board recommends that the Prison Service takes steps to address the injustice of an insufficient budget for the prison to fund a fairer wage, to help offset the ever-growing gap between the increased costs the men face in canteen and other purchases and the 50p weekly rise awarded.
HMPPS
Partially Accepted
Gartree (2023)
The Board is concerned that some prisoners are in receipt of lower levels of pay than at other establishments (for similar work) or by virtue of their educational attainment. What does the Governor intend to do about prisoners’ pay inconsistencies?
Governor / Director
Wealstun (2024)
How will the prison service ensure that prisons receive appropriate funding to cover the considerable amount of extra work caused by the increased churn (reception, OMU, finance, resettlement) so that prisoners are able to access everything they require throughout their sentence?
HMPPS
In Progress
Guys Marsh (2024)
In the outside community, mobile phone customers have been paying for their calls and data via a ‘plan’ for many years. Yet in prison, prisoners are still charged by the minute and for calls to mobiles the cost is considerable. Why does the Prison Service retain this outdated and expensive system?
HMPPS
Partially Accepted
Bure (2024)
The Board is concerned that the prison is carrying out a resettlement function but does not receive the additional funding for a prison employment lead, available in designated resettlement prisons. How will the Prison Service resolve this inequality?
HMPPS
Implemented
Buckley Hall (2025)
The Minister should review the maintenance contract with Amey, which the Board views as expensive and ineffective, and which hampers staff from carrying out necessary work such as updating the television signal and repairing laundry facilities and toilets.
Ministry of Justice
In Progress
Ashfield (2025)
Inadequate social care, including end-of-life and dementia care, for people convicted of sexual offences. With an increasing older population, what additional measures will be taken to assist prisons such as HMP Ashfield?
Other
In Progress
Ashfield (2025)
Urgent need for a comprehensive national older prisoner related strategy. HMP Ashfield’s over 50s population sits at more than 43%. Is the Minister considering a strategy and, if not, why not? If you are thinking about a strategy paper, what is the timeline for it to be published?
Other
In Progress
Altcourse (2025)
Does the Prison Service plan to enlarge and improve the kitchen facilities to take account of the increased prisoner population? If not, what is the reason behind the decision ?
HMPPS
Rejected
Dartmoor (2022)
Will Dartmoor continue both as a category C training prison and one that releases a significant number of prisoners each year? If so, what additional funding will be made available to support the full range of resettlement activities not currently available to stop prisoners being disadvantaged?
HMPPS
Coldingley (2022)
Can anything be done to give the Governor more power to intervene in the local delivery of such arrangements in the next two years?
HMPPS
Implemented
Bure (2025)
As raised in our annual report last year, why has a national minimum wage not been introduced across all prisons, given that Bure pays lower wages than many prisons, yet prisoners still pay similar canteen prices?
HMPPS
Noted
Buckley Hall (2025)
In our previous annual report, we noted the issue with security at the gate at Buckley Hall. This had been raised by HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) in their last inspection report in 2024. Does the Minister have funding available to improve this ongoing situation, which was described as weak?
Ministry of Justice
Rejected
Altcourse (2025)
What is the schedule for rolling repairs of netting and kitchen equipment?
Governor / Director
Charter Flight (2022)
The need assessments on which interpreters were booked for returnees to Europe were often unreliable. The assessments were made by IRC staff. It appeared that interpreters may not have been booked if a returnee had some knowledge of English. The information escorts must communicate is new and may seem complicated. The quality of these assessments must be improved. Additionally, the …
Other
Health investigations(2)
Independent investigation into the care and treatment of MR: Published … — Rec 5
This case identified a lack of knowledge about the facility within the local authority to fast track a request for adhoc additional funding for additional staffing cover where interventions such as one: one observation for a care home resident is required for a period of time to maintain a safe …
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
north_east_yorkshire
Independent investigation: Jenny Bryant, Consett — Rec 5
This case identified a lack of knowledge about the facility within the local authority to fast track a request for adhoc additional funding for additional staffing cover where interventions such as one: one observation for a care home resident is required for a period of time to maintain a safe …
north_east_yorkshire
Detention investigations(2)
Assessment of government progress in implementing the report on the … — Rec 39
The Home Offce should review with the Ministry of Justice the resource allocated to each IMB in the immigration detention estate.
Immigration Detention
Independent Investigation into Concerns about Brook House Immigration Removal Centre — Rec R35
The residential DCMs should ensure that ACDT case reviews are conducted by DCMs accompanied by a DCO acquainted with the detainee whose case they are assessing. (To be completed within 3 months)
Immigration Detention
Independent reviews(47)
Building Control Independent Panel — Rec 10
Protect building control income. In designing the new model of delivery, ensure income is guaranteed for the long term by ringfencing it to ensure BCBs can deliver their functions effectively.
Building Safety
Corry Defra Regulation Review — Rec 9
Review the funding streams connected to place-based delivery, for example biodiversity net gain, to ensure they can be used as flexibly as possible to help local authorities and regulators deliver the Government's Environmental Improvement Plan and Local Nature Recovery Strategy ambitions.
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 83
Local authorities should continue to make arrangements to bear the cost of recovery for all but the most exceptional emergencies, and should revisit their reserves and insurance arrangements in light of last summer’s floods.
Other
Cantle Report — Rec 6.20
Central Government and its agencies should relate funding to mainstream resources by developing ‘Regeneration PSAs’ negotiated through one regional body, (presumably Government Offices or a stronger RCU) which can develop longer term approaches with less reliance on initiatives, embracing all partner bodies.
Other
Heseltine Growth Review — Rec 83
Action to address NEETs is best taken at the local level. Resources to tackle the problem should therefore be available from the single pot. Youth unemployment will not be a problem or priority for action in every area, but where it is, LEPs working with local authorities, employers and other …
Other
Heseltine Growth Review — Rec 81
The budget for vocational training for learners aged 19 and over, and all funding currently set aside for apprenticeships for those aged 16 and over, should be devolved to local areas through the single funding pot described in Chapter 2. This therefore calls into question the continuation of the Skills …
Other
Heseltine Growth Review — Rec 80
The existing budget lines for adult careers advice should be included in the single funding pot. Each LEP, as part of its local economic plan, should consider how careers advice is best provided in its area to meet the needs of both the adult population and the requirement under the …
Other
Heseltine Growth Review — Rec 1
Central government should identify the budgets administered by different departments which support growth. These should be brought together into a single funding pot for local areas, without internal ring fences.
Other
Barker Land Use Planning Review — Rec 30
That Government considers, in the context of the Lyons Inquiry into Local Government, further fiscal options to ensure that local authorities have the right fiscal incentives to promote local economic growth. 25 86 per cent of surveyed councils cited the possibility of council tax limitations as the greatest barrier to …
Other
Barker Land Use Planning Review — Rec 28
Issues relating to the resourcing of PINS should be explored by: • considering the case for an additional £2 million of public funding for appeals conditional on the overall proportion of PINS funding on appeal work not being scaled back and on the delivery of stricter performance targets; • introducing …
Other
Barker Land Use Planning Review — Rec 20
The Government should review current resource arrangements for local planning authorities, related authority services (such as conservation) and key agencies. This should take account of the efficiency gains to be derived from other recommendations. In particular it should explore: • raising the £50,000 threshold for fee payments on a tapered …
Other
Barker Housing Supply Review — Rec 18
Building on the broadly positive response to its Local Authority Business Growth Incentive proposal, the Government should consider ways of incentivising local authorities to meet housing growth targets. One way would be to disregard, for a period of possibly up to three years, some or all of the council tax …
Other
Barker Housing Supply Review — Rec 17
Central government funding settlements for local authorities should be made more forward-looking. The Government should include in its calculations of Formula Spending Shares a variable to reflect expected housing growth in an area, drawing on housing targets set by the reformed regional planning process.
Other
Skidmore Review — Rec 92
Central government should simplify the net zero funding landscape for all local authorities by the next Spending Review. This should include consolidating different funding pots, reducing competitive bidding processes, giving longer lead-in times where bidding remains and providing funding over the medium- rather than the short-term.
Other
Carol Black Drugs Review (Part 2) — Rec 3
We recommend that from 2022 to 2023, DHSC require local authorities to spend drug treatment funding, current and additional, on these services and not on other things. Similarly, we recommend that DWP and MHCLG protect any future additional funding provided for employment services and housing support for people dependent on …
Health & Social Care
Farmer Review (Women) — Rec 11
Funding for women's centres to be made sustainable, with core services paid for by those agencies which refer women (including Police and Crime Commissioners and Probation providers) and those which save through the interventions they provide, such as health and local authorities.
Justice & Legal
Taylor Youth Justice Review — Rec 7
When local partners have developed the required capability, the Ministry of Justice should devolve the money it spends on custodial places to local areas, regions or the Welsh government in order that they can assume responsibility for commissioning their own secure provision. (Paragraph 52)
Justice & Legal
Taylor Youth Justice Review — Rec 3
The Ministry of Justice should roll the money that it contributes to YOTs into the English local government finance system, and into the funding which the Welsh government provides to local authorities in Wales, and remove the ring-fence requiring that this is narrowly spent on youth justice services. (Paragraph 39)
Justice & Legal
Youth Justice Board Review — Rec 4
MOJ’s YJPU and the YJB to consider submitting advice to ministers on the potential for multi-year funding to youth justice services and consider a revision of the youth justice funding formula. This should be undertaken in consultation with the YJB to ensure that any revised formula is future-proofed, has clear …
Justice & Legal
Heseltine Growth Review — Rec 5
The Government should allocate LEPS up to £250,000 of new public funding, resourced through departmental efficiency savings and underspends, in each of years 2013/14 and 2014/15 specifically to devise their local economic strategies, and create the foundations for their implementation.
Other
Heseltine Growth Review — Rec 3
Government should streamline its management of EU Common Strategic Framework funds in England, strip out the bureaucracy of multiple programmes and align local allocations from the four funds with the single funding pot.
Other
Allen Early Intervention Review (Part 1) — Rec 25
I recommend that the Foundation should be led and funded by non-central government sources, including local authorities, ethical and philanthropic trusts, foundations and charities as well as private investors who have already expressed an interest in this. The Government should champion and encourage this concept. Whitehall should neither control nor …
Other
Allen Early Intervention Review (Part 1) — Rec 8
Since a successful Early Intervention approach requires sustainability and a long-term view, I recommend that consideration should be given to creating a lasting, stable settlement between central and local government within a published framework or codification of the local/central relationship. I further recommend that, if developed, this settlement should be …
Other
Allen Early Intervention Review (Part 2) — Rec 17
HM Treasury should encourage councils, in association with financial institutions, to produce practical yet innovative locally based financing ideas for Early Intervention. Should economic circumstances allow, this could include putting together an innovative collective bond issue on Early Intervention to kick-start a revived local authority bond market. To facilitate this, …
Other
Oakervee Review — Rec 29
Conclusion 29: HS2 Ltd and the DfT should continue, where feasible and appropriate, to engage with the private sector, in association with local government, to develop HS2 stations. There may be opportunities for local authorities or combined authorities, in partnership with the private sector, to take on HS2 Ltd’s role …
Other
Wessely Review — Rec 76
There should be national guidance on how budgets and responsibilities should be shared to pay for section 117 aftercare.
Health & Social Care
Accepted
Neurodivergence Task and Finish Group: report — Rec 8
Recommendation Eight: Increase funding levels to schools to reflect the level of need within their population so they can support more neurodivergent children and young people within their core offer We welcome the additional funding secured in the 2025 Spending Review, and the commitment that this funding will be used …
Health & Social Care
Prison Capacity Review — Rec 5
I recommend that the IOM model should be reinvigorated, properly funded, and rolled out in a consistent way as a model for cross-agency work.
Justice & Legal
Carter Legal Aid Review — Rec 3.8
It is recommended that the Community Legal Service strategy should not simply set the way forward for the Legal Services Commission, but should also provide a good working framework for other funders of legal advice services, including local authorities and other government departments in England and Wales, that allows them …
Justice & Legal
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 84
Central government should have pre-planned rather than ad-hoc arrangements to contribute towards the financial burden of recovery from the most exceptional emergencies, on a formula basis.
Other
Heseltine Growth Review — Rec 2
Local partnerships should bid for funds from central government on a competitive basis. Bids should be for a minimum of five years starting from 2015/16.
Other
Building Better Building Beautiful Commission — Rec 13
empower communities. We believe that the government should continue to support community-led development and to consider what policy changes can help CLTs, neighbourhood groups and small businesses to deliver more new homes and improve places. Many of our proposals should help with this, but in addition we would specifically recommend: …
Building Safety
Allen Early Intervention Review (Part 1) — Rec 22
I recommend that Early Intervention should build on the strength of its local base by establishing 15 local Early Intervention Places to spearhead its development. These should be run by local authorities and the voluntary sector, who are already the main initiators and innovators of Early Intervention.
Other
Allen Early Intervention Review (Part 1) — Rec 12
I recommend that the success of Family Nurse Partnership should be taken further, with the aspiration that every vulnerable first-time young mother who meets the criteria and wants to join Family Nurse Partnership should be able to access it, and that discussions should take place with all relevant interests on …
Other
Allen Early Intervention Review (Part 2) — Rec 13
I recommend that central and local government agree to pay Early Intervention outcome-based payments (where savings accrue to them). Specifically, I recommend that: • HM Treasury and departments develop methods of accounting to ensure that future payments based on successful outcomes will be honoured from their departmental budgets; and • …
Other
Allen Early Intervention Review (Part 2) — Rec 11
I recommend that, given the public expenditure situation, we need to be much more creative in finding additional (not substitute) non-government money. The social goal of Early Intervention and the design of new instruments should be tightly coupled together so that the instruments do not lose their raison d'être, as …
Other
Coates Prison Education Review — Rec 18
Governors should be able to use their education budgets to fund learning at Level 3 and above.
Justice & Legal
Coates Prison Education Review — Rec 12
The current mechanism for funding prison education should be revised so that Governors and/or providers can design a curriculum that meets the individual needs and Personal Learning Plan of each prisoner for whom they are responsible. There should be no restrictions on the funding for arts, sports and Personal and …
Justice & Legal
MacAlister Review — Rec 76
Government should introduce an updated funding formula for children’s services, and take greater care to ensure that changes in government policy that impact the cost of delivering children’s social care are accompanied by additional resources for local government.
Education
Augar Review — Rec 4.4
Government should commit to providing an indicative AEB that enables individual FE colleges to plan on the basis of income over a three-year period. Government should also explore introducing additional flexibility to transfer a proportion of AEB allocations between years on the same basis.
Education
Augar Review — Rec 4.3
ESFA funding rules should be simplified for FE colleges, allowing colleges to respond more flexibly and immediately to the particular needs of their local labour market.
Education
Angiolini Review — Rec 13
Local Authorities should ensure that they have reasonable systems in place to ensure that all police requests for accommodation, whether secure or non-secure, are accepted. Adequate funding must be made available for local authority overnight secure accommodation of children in police custody.
Policing & Security
Accepted
Timpson Review — Rec 15
DfE should look carefully at the timing and amounts of any adjustments to schools' funding following exclusion, to make sure they neither act as an incentive for schools to permanently exclude a pupil at particular times, nor discourage a school from admitting a child who has been permanently excluded from …
Education
Accepted
Timpson Review — Rec 14
DfE should make schools responsible for the children they exclude and accountable for their educational outcomes. It should consult on how to take this forward, working with schools, AP and LAs to design clear roles in which schools should have greater control over the funding for AP to allow them …
Education
Accepted
Timpson Review — Rec 8
DfE should establish a Practice Improvement Fund of sufficient value, longevity and reach to support LAs, mainstream, special and AP schools to work together to establish effective systems to identify children in need of support and deliver good interventions for them. The fund should support effective partnership working to commission …
Education
Accepted
Shawcross Review — Rec 13
Lengthen the Prevent funding cycle to between two and five years in order to better sustain positive local work. The Homeland Security Group should develop an enhanced evaluation strategy for Prevent-funded projects with a focus on outcomes over activity or outputs.
Policing & Security
Accepted
Barker Land Use Planning Review — Rec 7
Local authorities should be encouraged to work together in drawing up joint development plan documents and determining planning applications where there are significant spillovers which are likely to spread beyond the boundary of one authority. In the medium term, consideration should be given to how the London model, where strategic …
Other
PHSO casework decisions(14)
P-002280 — Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board
The ICB's contractor refused a suitable wheelchair, and the ICB allegedly made an unnecessary safeguarding referral and pressured Mr A to drop his complaint.
NHS in England
Nov 2023
P-001110 — Richmond CCG
Ms I complained that Richmond CCG's new budget reduced funds for her partner's care, miscommunicated about gross/net pay, and failed to help her find a new payroll provider, causing stress and financial loss.
NHS in England
Partly Upheld
Sep 2021
P-001965 — Slough Borough Council
Miss S complained the ICB underfunded her personal health budget, provided an unqualified carer causing inadequate care during a seizure, and handled her complaint poorly by relying on old documents.
NHS in England
Apr 2023
P-002821 — Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board
Ms O complained the ICB agreed to refund nursing fees for her mother but then refused payment, impacting her mother's estate.
NHS in England
Jul 2024
P-002941 — Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board
Mrs O complained the ICB refused to pay her as a family member for managing three personal health budgets (PHBs) for her sons, impacting her finances.
NHS in England
Sep 2024
P-003013 — NHS England
NHS England's review panel wrongly upheld Mrs T's ineligibility for CHC funding, causing family to pay for care. ICB poorly handled concerns about unpaid backdated fees and accused complainant of unreasonable behaviour.
NHS in England
Oct 2024
P-004222 — Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board
Mrs A complained Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board incorrectly refused a full continuing healthcare funding assessment and a retrospective review for her mother.
NHS in England
Nov 2025
P-002382 — Frimley Integrated Care Board
Mr N complained the ICB refused to reimburse substantial expenses incurred caring for Ms O's son after his residential placement broke down, causing significant financial hardship.
NHS in England
Dec 2023
P-003368 — NHS England
NHS England's independent review panel wrongly denied Mrs A Continuing Healthcare funding, forcing her to pay for care between January and October 2021.
NHS in England
Feb 2025
P-003624 — Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board
Mr R complained Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board refused to assess his mother's eligibility for continuing healthcare (CHC) for an unassessed period between 2012 and 2017.
NHS in England
Partly Upheld
Jun 2025
P-003619 — West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board
Ms P complained the ICB provided inadequate care funding and the Trust's insufficient respiratory care and incorrect medication, which she believed contributed to her mother's death.
NHS in England
Partly Upheld
Jun 2025
P-003860 — Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
Ms N complained the NIHRC wrongly refused her request for help regarding a housing association's eviction actions, which ultimately led to her homelessness and health issues.
UK Government
Sep 2023
P-002539 — Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board
Dr P complained the ICB failed to pay her mother's Funded Nursing Care and refer her for a review, leading to missed opportunities for funding and assessment.
NHS in England
Apr 2024
P-004417 — Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board
Mr L complained the ICB incorrectly declined two funding requests for a vasectomy reversal, causing him severe pain, inability to work, financial loss, stress, and suicidal ideation until he paid privately.
NHS in England
Nov 2025
LGO / SPSO decisions(1192)
25-002-449 — Shropshire Council
Summary: Ms C complains about the care provided to her son, Mr D, by Yani Care Solutions Ltd, which was commissioned by the Council. I have ended my investigation of Ms C’s complaint. I cannot say whether Ms C, or Mr B acting on behalf of Ms C, are suitable …
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Not Upheld
Nov 2025
24-013-321 — Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: Mrs X complains the Council has said it will provide her with a transport budget that does not cover the cost of transporting her child, Y, to his placement named in his Education, Health and Care Plan for the whole academic year. Mrs X says she is struggling to …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
Jun 2025
25-013-140 — Birmingham City Council
on the lessons that can be learnt from our complaints about end of life care given in care homes and in the home.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Jan 2026
21-011-212 — Amica Care Trust
The Care Provider took too long to submit a nursing assessment for Funded Nursing Care. This caused Mrs Y a financial loss because her fees were not reduced for three months. The Care Provider will apologise and reimburse Mrs Y.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Upheld
Mar 2022
21-006-146 — Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s decision to charge him for the non-residential care he receives. The Council was not at fault.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Not Upheld
Mar 2022
21-006-006 — North Norfolk District Council
Summary: Mr X complains the Council hasn’t properly considered the terms and conditions of a Disabled Facilities Grant. The Council is not at fault.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Not Upheld
Mar 2022
21-009-356 — Sheffield City Council
Summary: Mr F complains about the Council’s decision to refuse his application for a blue badge. Following contact from the Ombudsman the Council reviewed Mr F’s case and has now issued him with a badge. We are satisfied this remedies the injustice he was caused.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Upheld
Mar 2022
21-009-149 — London Borough of Hillingdon
Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to tell her it had placed a land charge on her property following disabled facilities grant works. The Council was not at fault for placing a charge on the property. It was at fault for failing to properly consider whether to waive repayment …
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Upheld
Mar 2022
21-013-609 — Essex County Council
Summary: Mrs M complained to us about the way in which the Council has calculated the contribution her daughter has to make towards the cost of her care, and the way in which it has communicated about this. We found fault with regards to the actions of the Council, which …
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Upheld
May 2022
21-016-135 — Think Homecare Limited
Summary: Mrs C complained Think Homecare Ltd wrongly charged her parents, Mr and Mrs B, for domiciliary care services. Mrs C said they cancelled three days of domiciliary visits in advance, were told by Think Homecare Ltd they would not be charged, but were. This caused Mr and Mrs B …
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Upheld
Jun 2022
22-006-428 — West Midlands Combined Authority
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that West Midlands Combined Authority has failed to provide concessionary travel passes to his son’s carers to assist disabled people to use public transport. This is because there is no requirement for the Authority to issue passes to carers and the substantive …
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Aug 2022
22-004-805 — Staffordshire County Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s administration of a top-up fee agreement in 2018 for his mother Mrs X’s care home placement. There is not enough evidence of Council fault to warrant an investigation. The Council’s funding of Mrs X’s out-of-area placement does not cause …
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Aug 2022
22-005-699 — Lincolnshire County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s response to Ms X’s request for help with adaptations and repairs to her bathroom via a disabled facilities grant. The Council is not responsible for dealing with applications for disabled facilities grants or housing repairs, which are matters for the …
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Sep 2022
23-018-172 — Gloucester City Council
Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of a disabled facilities grant application for her child. She says the Council has been vague about what is covered by the grant. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Mar 2024
23-018-118 — London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about delay in the Council agreeing to fund the adaptations his mother needed. He also complains there has been a delay in the works being completed. This because there is insufficient evidence of fault. In addition, one element of the complaint is …
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Mar 2024
23-001-858 — London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Summary: Mr X complains that the Council did not properly deal with a Blue Badge or taxi-card application properly. The Council is at fault because it delayed dealing with Mr X’s Blue Badge and taxi-card applications and did not make consistent reasonable adjustments. Mr X suffered avoidable distress and incurred …
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Upheld
Apr 2024
23-011-946 — Cambridgeshire County Council
Mrs C complained her family was not properly advised about the charges involved in securing a placement for her mother in a residential care home.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Upheld
May 2024
24-005-242 — Surrey County Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council failed to tell him he might be charged for his care. The Council has waived some of the charges. An investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Upheld
Aug 2024
24-007-080 — Norwich City Council
Summary: Mrs X complained that the Council has not dealt with her Disabled Facilities Grant properly. The Council is at fault because it did not communicate effectively and was not clear about the services it would provide. The Council has said it will make improvements to its service. Mrs X …
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Upheld
Apr 2025
24-012-732 — Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: Mr X complains the Council has failed to deal properly with the charges for his care, resulting in it charging him more than he can afford to pay. The Council failed to explain why it accepted some of his car expenses as disability related expenditure but not others. The …
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Upheld
May 2025
23-008-547 — Derby City Council
Ms X, Ms Y and Ms Z complained about the Council’s offer of transport support for their children via a personal travel budget (PTB), rather than providing a vehicle, and about the handling of their subsequent transport appeals. They complained the Council’s decision to offer a PTB was impractical and …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
May 2025
23-009-736 — Derby City Council
Ms X, Ms Y and Ms Z complained about the Council’s offer of transport support for their children via a personal travel budget (PTB), rather than providing a vehicle, and about the handling of their subsequent transport appeals. They complained the Council’s decision to offer a PTB was impractical and …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
May 2025
24-014-306 — West Sussex County Council
Summary: Ms B complained that the Council removed the funding for transporting her daughter, Miss C, to a day centre three times a week. We found the Council applied its transport policy with a blanket approach, without considering Miss C’s individual circumstances. The Council has agreed to fully explain the …
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Upheld
May 2025
24-020-797 — Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: Miss X complained about the Council’s service in providing bins for her property. Miss X said that she is on maternity pay and has limited income, so she cannot afford the costs of the bins. However, the Council has offered no alternative options. Since our investigation began, the Council …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Upheld
Aug 2025
24-017-205 — Staffordshire County Council
Summary: Mrs X complained on behalf of Mr A about the Council’s delay in deciding his financial contribution to his care costs, and its policy to cap disability related expenditure to the amount of his disability benefit. We find the Council’s delay and policy to adopt a blanket approach was …
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Upheld
Nov 2025
25-009-478 — Blackpool Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the disposal of her old stair lift as the complaint is late and there is insufficient evidence of fault to justify investigating.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Nov 2025
201508911 — Glasgow City Council
Mr C applied to the council for a Community Care Grant from the Scottish Welfare Fund after moving into a new, unfurnished home. He was initially awarded the majority of items he requested but was refused others, including hallway and bathroom carpets, a washing machine, and a microwave. Dissatisfied with …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Local Government
Upheld
Jun 2016
25-013-275 — London Borough of Bexley
on the lessons that can be learnt from our complaints about end of life care given in care homes and in the home.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Feb 2026
25-012-711 — London Borough of Havering
on the lessons that can be learnt from our complaints about end of life care given in care homes and in the home.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Upheld
Feb 2026
25-000-609 — North Lincolnshire Council
on the lessons that can be learnt from our complaints about end of life care given in care homes and in the home.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Not Upheld
Feb 2026
25-005-654 — Bath and North East Somerset Council
on the lessons that can be learnt from our complaints about end of life care given in care homes and in the home.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Upheld
Feb 2026
25-005-117 — Durham County Council
on the lessons that can be learnt from our complaints about end of life care given in care homes and in the home.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Upheld
Feb 2026
25-010-912 — Norfolk County Council
We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s role in the maintenance of a faulty bath-lift that caused the complainant to have an accident in June 2023. The complaint is late.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Feb 2026
25-013-641 — North East Lincolnshire Council
on the lessons that can be learnt from our complaints about end of life care given in care homes and in the home.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Upheld
Jan 2026
25-019-616 — West Lancashire Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax enforcement because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council. The lack of services of which he complains affects all or most of the population.
LGO (Local Government & …
Benefits And Tax
Jan 2026
25-018-293 — Brighton & Hove City Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax liability because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council. There is also a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal.
LGO (Local Government & …
Benefits And Tax
Jan 2026
25-010-760 — Northumberland County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about council tax and complaint handling. This is because there is no significant injustice outstanding that warrants our involvement.
LGO (Local Government & …
Benefits And Tax
Jan 2026
25-018-952 — North Yorkshire Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax reduction delay because there is insufficient injustice to warrant investigation. He also has a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal.
LGO (Local Government & …
Benefits And Tax
Jan 2026
25-012-050 — North Somerset Council
. There is insufficient evidence of fault to justify investigation.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Jan 2026
21-003-573 — Wiltshire Council
Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to provide his daughter, Z, with appropriate transport to school and respite care between January and July 2021 after it could not provide a suitably trained passenger assistant to carry her medication. We found fault in the Council’s failure to provide appropriate transport …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
Feb 2022
21-000-966 — Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council
Summary: We upheld part of Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s funding for a disabled facilities grant to adapt his home for his son. The Council failed to consider whether it should pay a discretionary grant towards the work. This created uncertainty for Mr X about whether more funding should …
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Upheld
Mar 2022
21-006-024 — Staffordshire County Council
Summary: There was no fault in the Council’s assessment of Mr X’s disability expenses for heating.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Not Upheld
Mar 2022
21-011-984 — Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: Mrs X complained the Council told her it would build a ground floor extension to provide suitable facilities for her disabled son, Mr Z, and then changed its mind and failed to respond to her telephone calls. The Council assessed Mr Z’s case without fault and made suitable recommendations. …
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Upheld
Apr 2022
21-016-236 — Somerset West and Taunton Council
Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to provide her assisted bin collections. The Council’s failure to routinely provide assisted bin collections is fault which caused Ms X an injustice.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Upheld
Jul 2022
21-008-578 — Surrey County Council
Summary: Mrs C complained that the Council would not pay the full cost of her taking her adult son to college, despite agreeing that transport was necessary. The Council was at fault in not paying Mrs C’s full transport costs or properly considering her appeal. It has agreed the Ombudsman’s …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
Oct 2022
22-002-189 — Lincolnshire County Council
Summary: Mr X complained the Council has wrongly refused to accept property valuations from four estate agents provided as part of a financial assessment to calculate his wife, Mrs X’s contributions towards the cost of her care. As a result the Council has asked them to reimburse over £50,000 in …
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Upheld
Oct 2022
21-016-755 — Staffordshire County Council
Summary: A disabled woman complained that the Council gave flawed advice which led to her father incurring wasted costs on plans for an extension which could not be implemented. But we will not investigate this matter because the complaint has been made late.
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Oct 2022
22-007-769 — Northumberland County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to pay for residents care home placements. This is because the Council has confirmed it has paid for placements it contracts with the Care Provider up to October 2022. There is no injustice to residents in the home warranting …
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Nov 2022
22-009-777 — East Sussex County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about insufficient staffing levels leading to delays in processing Definitive Map Modification Order applications. It is unlikely that further investigation will lead to a different outcome. Nor can we achieve the outcome the complainant is seeking.
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Nov 2022
21-006-244 — Nottinghamshire County Council
Summary: There was no fault in how the County Council worked with the housing authority to get Miss B’s kitchen adapted. It is not clear however, that the County Council properly considered its power to intervene when problems with the work was not corrected for many months. I have not …
LGO (Local Government & …
Adult Care Services
Upheld
Nov 2022
Domestic Homicide Reviews(6)
Northampton — recommendation 5
Where issues of funding for accommodation arises Adult Social Services should take a leading role in the coordination of efforts to secure funding, which should be completed as soon as possible and not prolong a person’s vulnerability in delaying the decision making process.
Adult Social Services
Adult Social Services
Sandwell — recommendation 1
That the Safer Sandwell Partnership (SSP) support initiatives by CAADA to have the multi-agency risk assessment conference process placed on a statutory basis to ensure sustainable local funding and high quality intervention which supports high risk victims of domestic abuse.
Safer Sandwell Partnership (SSP)
Central Bedfordshire — recommendation 12
Within the Better Care Fund Plan for Central Bedfordshire, the Bedfordshire CCG and CBC review funding for local HIDVA services to ensure that there is a consistent and equitable service offer.
Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group | Central …
Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group
Stafford — recommendation 20.1
To work with partners and access funding to help find support for pets where women need to leave their homes to go into Refuge.
Staffordshire Women’s Aid
Wolverhampton — recommendation 2
Gain assurance about the level of resourcing and usage of interpreting services available in the area for all agencies and services.
Safer Wolverhampton Partnership
Gloucestershire — recommendation 4.3.1
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities should review with wider Central Government departments and the Domestic Abuse Commissioners Office the impact the statutory duty to provide support within safe accommodation has on community-based provision to ensure Local Authorities have adequate resource to commission wider support such as therapeutic …
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and …
Ministry of Housing, Communities …
Local audit findings(15)
Auditor Advisory Notice: Northamptonshire County Council
Auditor advisory notice under section 29 and Schedule 8 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014, warning that the 2018/19 budget proposals did not balance and relied heavily on one-off measures such as the sale and leaseback of One …
KPMG
Feb 2018
Section 114 Notice: Nottingham City Council
Notice issued on the basis that the council could not deliver a balanced budget for 2023/24, with a net forecast General Fund pressure of £23.351m, over 80 per cent of it in People's services.
Nov 2023
£23m
Section 114 Notice: Birmingham City Council
Second 2023 notice, issued alongside a section 5 report by the monitoring officer after a decision on implementing a new pay equity system did not proceed.
Sep 2023
Section 114 Notice: Birmingham City Council
First of two 2023 notices, citing an equal pay liability in the region of £650m to £760m that the council could not fund, alongside an in-year budget gap of around £87m.
Sep 2023
£87m
Section 114 Notice: Woking Borough Council
Notice issued against core funding of about £16m for 2023/24, with a deficit of £1.2bn arising from a historic investment strategy that produced unaffordable borrowing and irrecoverable loans.
Jun 2023
£1200m
Section 114 Notice: Thurrock Council
Notice reporting an in-year deficit of £452m for 2022/23, driven by write-downs on investment assets, under-assessed Minimum Revenue Provision and exposure to short-term borrowing.
Dec 2022
£452m
Section 114 Notice: London Borough of Croydon
Third Croydon notice, citing unfunded deficits forecast from 2023/24 onwards and no prospect of financial sustainability without extraordinary government support.
Nov 2022
Section 114 Notice: Nottingham City Council
Notice issued with a parallel section 5 report after a CIPFA review found about £15.86m of ring-fenced Housing Revenue Account funds had been wrongly credited to the General Fund over six years.
Dec 2021
£16m
Section 114 Notice: Slough Borough Council
Notice issued by the section 151 officer citing incorrect Minimum Revenue Provision calculations since 2016/17, borrowing that had risen from about £180m to £760m, effectively no unallocated general reserves and a projected negative General Fund balance of £159m by March …
Jul 2021
£159m
Section 114 Notice: London Borough of Croydon
Second notice, issued after the council had not agreed a balanced budget, citing a potential in-year shortfall of £66m for 2020/21.
Dec 2020
£66m
Section 114 Notice: London Borough of Croydon
First of three Croydon notices. The council faced a forecast overspend and carried debts of around £1.5bn, linked in part to its housing development company.
Nov 2020
Section 114 Notice: Northamptonshire County Council
Second notice in five months, reflecting a projected in-year deficit the council could not meet from available resources.
Jul 2018
Section 114 Notice: Northamptonshire County Council
First of two 2018 notices. The chief finance officer reported a significant risk that the council could not deliver a balanced budget, with forecast overspending it could not contain within resources.
Feb 2018
Section 114 Notice: London Borough of Hackney
The council's treasurer issued a section 114 notice predicting a shortfall of about £15.5m by the year end, requiring in-year budget cuts of around £4.5m.
Oct 2000
£16m
Section 114 Notice: London Borough of Hillingdon
First section 114 notice issued in England since the early 1990s, issued amid the council's financial difficulties.
Jul 2000