A COUNCIL has been told to pay a woman £350 compensation after forcing her to wait 16 weeks for a Hackney carriage licence.

The Local Government Ombudsman made the ruling against Rossendale Borough Council after deciding they had caused the woman, referred to only as Mrs X, "uncertainty, anxiety, frustration and financial loss".

The case was reported to the Ombudsman by a man referred to as "Mr X" who claimed the council took too long to process Mrs Y’s application for the licence and as a result Mrs Y was not able to work and support her family.

Having been offered a job with a private hire firm on condition that she attained a Hackney carriage licence, Mrs Y submitted an application the the council on May 26, 2015, but it was not until September 16, 2015, she was issued with one.

In the Ombudsman's report it states that Mr X complained to the council about the time taken to issue the licence, stating that neighbouring councils issue licences in a matter of days and that the delay prevented Mrs Y from working and as a result she has suffered a financial loss.

Having been contacted by the Ombudsman the council said at the time of Mrs Y's application it had a backlog of licence requests and although it could not establish the exact number pending at the time, said it received 11 on May 26, 2015.

It also stated the backlog was due to a "significant increase in the number of new applicants, particularly from applicants outside the council’s controlled area" and it allocated additional resources to deal with it.

In the intervening period it has also increased its staffing in the licensing unit and set times at which it will accept calls.

In reaching its decision to issue the compensation order, the Ombudsman added: "We recommend the council pays Mrs Y £350 in recognition of the uncertainty, anxiety, frustration and financial loss she experienced, and the unnecessary time and trouble she has been put to.

"We also recommend the council identifies and reviews any other complaints received in relation to delays in processing taxi licence applications under its previous policy. Should the council identify other applicants in similar circumstances to Mrs X, who are able to evidence a significant injustice, the council should consider how to remedy this."

A spokesperson for Rossendale Borough Council, said: “We will be considering the report at a future council meeting and we will be responding to the report after that meeting.”