Council fined £5,000 for disability adaptions delays

The ombudsman ruled that Daventry Council was guilty of maladministration because it failed to properly handle the man's application to adapt his home in November 2010.

The application met all the criteria for funding but because the estimated cost was in excess of the statutory maximum grant of £30,000, the council identified an alternative scheme through the council. This could fund the work at no cost to the council. However, this application was delayed and was ultimately unsuccessful.

In October 2011 the man's landlord, which is a housing association, offered to top up the £5,000 needed to fund the original build, but the council continued pursuing the alternative scheme until March 2013.

The ombudsman said the council could have reached a decision far earlier had it considered its power to top up the grant rather than persuing the council grant for an 'unacceptable' period of time. The ombudsman also found that council had not provided accurate information to the man and his wife about progress on the project.

The ombudsman ordered Daventry Council to apologise to the couple and pay them £5,000. The council agreed to start work on the alterations to the property which should begin in August 2013.

The watchdog also recommended that the council considers its powers to top up grants in future.

Dr Jane Martin, Local Government Ombudsman, said: 'The family has been left in unsuitable accommodation for far more time than necessary because Daventry Council chose to pursue the money-saving option.

'While I recognise the financial constraints local authorities are under in the current economic climate, I find it unacceptable that this much-needed work has been held up for so long.

'These delays have caused considerable stress and anxiety to both the complainant and his wife and I welcome the fact that the council is now putting in place plans to improve their situation.'