Council's apology over 'distress' to resident

The man had sought Barnsley Council's help after being attacked at his home, an ombudsman finds.

A council has been ordered to apologise after it was found to have caused "distress and uncertainty" to a resident who had sought help when he was targeted at his home due to his sexuality.

The resident, known only as Mr X, had asked Barnsley Council for help after being attacked, spat at, verbally abused and had eggs thrown at his home.

Mr X was already on the council’s waiting list to move to a different home, but while he had sought assistance after being attacked, his case was later closed by the authority, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman said.

Councillor Wendy Cain apologised to him "for the distress he experienced" and said he had since been rehoused and given compensation.

'Full responsibility'

A report by the ombudsman said that after Barnsley Council had not heard back from South Yorkshire Police regarding the attacks, staff had spoken to Victim Support, who confirmed that Mr X was "at risk" in his property.

But the council had closed his case after "it did not have information from the police on file to show Mr X’s property was unsafe for him", the ombudsman found.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the authority said it "did not have reason to believe Mr X was homeless" when he asked for help and therefore did not take a homelessness application.

Barnsley Council said it had based that decision on the fact it considered the hate crime incidents were random and had taken place away from his home.

However, the notes from Mr X’s initial telephone call to the council said his home had been targeted.

Ms Cain, cabinet spokesperson for public health and communities, said: “We accept the ombudsman’s final decision and take full responsibility for the matter.

"We take all Local Government Ombudsman inquiries very seriously and are dedicated to working with our residents to improve how we support our communities.”

The ombudsman told the council to pay Mr X £150 to "recognise the distress and uncertainty caused".