Council rapped over response to complaints
The Herald|September 05, 2024
AUTHORITY TOOK 76 DAYS IN EXAMPLE FROM OMBUDSMAN
WILLIAM TELFORD
Council rapped over response to complaints

PLYMOUTH City Council has been rapped by a Government-backed watchdog for not dealing with complaints quickly enough. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Amerdeep Somal wrote to the council’s chief executive to say the council must make improvements.

In her letter to council chief Tracey Lee, Ms Somal said the authority had been late replying to half her office’s inquiries, with one reply received 56 days after the deadline.

She said this could have hampered investigations and criticised the authority for poor coordination with the NHS, saying it took ages to implement recommendations in some cases.

Ms Somal wrote: “I ask that you take steps to improve your liaison with this office, including closer oversight of the remedy process.”

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