| Publishing organisation: | Scottish Public Services Ombudsman |
| Topic: | Homelessness |
| Determination: | Not upheld |
| Tenure: | Applicant |
Organisation:
| Perth and Kinross Council |
| Country of relevance: | Scotland |
| Report link: | Click here to view this document |
A complaint was received by the Ombudsman on 17 October 2008 from Ms C, the mother of four children. In April 2007, Ms C and her partner had been made unintentionally homeless from their home in a village outside Perth.
The family had been placed in bed and breakfast accommodation in the village, but from August 2007 they were temporarily housed in a furnished tenancy in Perth. Ms C decided that education arrangements for her youngest children should not be disrupted and sought assurances from Perth and Kinross Council with regard to the transport costs associated with her youngest children continuing to attend a primary school and a nursery in the village.
Towards the end of the 2007/08 school year Ms C, who had received no reimbursement of costs, raised the issue of the travel costs and other matters with the Council. She was not satisfied with the Council’s response and complained to the Ombudsman’s office.
Determination
(a) Ms C was not properly informed directly by the Council about the travel costs for two of her children (not upheld). The Ombudsman could see no evidence that Ms C was wrongly advised by the Council.
(b) When Ms C asked a NHS Health Visitor working with homeless families, she claims she was assured that travel passes would be issued for her children but that she would have to meet her own costs of accompanying those children (no finding).
(c) The Council’s decision to fund Ms C’s children’s travel costs from the time of her complaint failed to address the substantial costs she had already incurred (not upheld). The Council stated that the Education and Children’s Service home to school transport policy was in the process of being reviewed. The Ombudsman recommended that the Council inform him of the outcome of their review of policy.