Issue - meetings

Committee considered a report which provided information contained within the Annual Letter from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) 2020/21.

The LGSCO letter contained an annual summary of statistics on the complaints made about the Council for the financial year ending 31^st March 2021.  Members were asked to note that the data provided by the LGSCO may not align with the data the Council held because the LGSCO numbers included enquiries from people who had been signposted by them back to the Council but who may then have chosen not to pursue their complaint.  Benchmarking information with close neighbouring authorities was also included in the report

The LGSCO had received 6 enquiries and complaints during 2020/21, one of which was subject to a detailed investigation.  The LGSCO decided 7 complaints -  2 were incomplete or invalid, 2 were closed after initial enquiries and in 2 cases, advice was given only.  The remaining one was decided as ‘maladministration and injustice’. 

One complaint in relation to the New Bolsover regeneration project was upheld against the Council and as required following the LGSCO decision a report was submitted to Executive on 21^st June 2021.

Although the report was regarding complaints directed to the LGSCO, the Council also received three complaints via the Housing Ombudsman (HO) for the same period, one of which was decided during that period.  In that case the decision was that there was ‘no maladministration’.

Moved by Councillor Andrew Joesbury and seconded by Councillor Ray Heffer

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The Customer Standards and Complaints Officer left the meeting.