Increase in complaints to council watchdog

3:21pm Wednesday 2nd August 2006

THE number of complaints about Bolton Council which were referred to the local government watchdog increased by 20 per cent last year, new figures show.

Statistics released by the office of Anne Seex, the Local Government Ombudsman, show members of the public made 116 complaints in 2005/06 compared to 97 in 2004/05.

But after investigation, it was found that none of the grievances warranted a formal report over an injustice being caused, although a total of £11,500 was paid out in compensation.

The Local Government Ombudsman investigates complaints made about the conduct of local authorities.

Most of the complaints from Bolton people were about housing 39 in total and there were 27 about planning.

In the previous year, the numbers were 31 and 19 respectively.

Complaints about education rose from none to six and complaints housing benefits went up from six to nine.

Letters about highways, council tax and social services fell slightly this year.

Mrs Seex dealt with 108 of the letters sent to her.

She found no maladministration in 30 cases and in 42 cases ruled the council had not had enough time, as required by law, to consider the complaints. She said 13 cases were out of her jurisdiction, a further 13 were settled between Bolton Council and the complainant and she chose not to pursue 10.

Mrs Seex said: "In one case the council provided misleading information about its time scale for a re-roofing scheme, leading to the complainant's withdrawal from an application to buy their home under the right to buy scheme.

"The council's poor advice was compounded by its delay in completing the re-roofing programme and failing to provide accurate information about the delay. The council agreed to pay the complainant £7,583 in compensation.

"In another case, the council failed to properly deal with a home loss payment to a council tenant, giving faulty advice about eligibility to the complainant. The council settled the complaint by a payment of £3,450 the sum the tenant should have received."

A council spokesman said: "Of the 30 complaints which the Ombudsman looked at in detail last year none was deemed to involve maladministration.

"However, we are aware that council services are subject to greater scrutiny and will continue to work to make service improvements."