Issue - meetings

Tony Redmond, the Local Government Ombudsman, will present his annual letter for 2005 / 2006

Received the Local Government Ombudsman's Annual Letter 2005 / 2006, presented by Mr Tony Redmond, the Local Government Ombudsman. 

The report commended the Council on a number of issues including a general reduction in the number of complaints received, a total of 86 complaints against last year’s total of 103, and the previous year’s total of 133.  The most significant trend was a fall in housing related complaints from 60 to 42.  Complaints relating to housing benefit and social services also fell. 

It was particularly pleasing to note that Barking and Dagenham was the only Local Authority not to receive any complaints regarding planning issues and that the average response time to first enquiries was 21.6 days against a requested timescale of 28 days.

Mr Redmond also commended the relationship between his office and the Corporate Complaints Team and the Council’s willingness, in general, to respond constructively to settlement proposals.

Members welcomed the report and thanked Mr Redmond for his presentation.