William Eichler 26 May 2021

Bristol City Council apologises for ‘distress’ caused by mishandling of complaints

Bristol City Council apologises for ‘distress’ caused by mishandling of complaints image

Bristol City Council has apologised after being criticised for failing to provide evidence it had completed Ombudsman recommendations in two separate complaints.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman completed investigations into the complaints, which involved missed bin collections and noise nuisances, in early 2020.

In both cases the council accepted the Ombudsman’s decision and its recommendations to put things right for the complainants. It also committed to improving services for other people in the city.

The Ombudsman suspended chasing the council for evidence it had complied with the recommendations due to COVID-19. However, once the Ombudsman resumed casework the council failed to supply the necessary evidence until fresh complaints were registered.

Michael King, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said that it was clear from these two cases there were ‘significant issues in the city.’

Responding to the Ombudsman’s report, a Bristol City Council spokesperson commented: ‘We fully accept the findings of the ombudsman and recognise that we have fallen short in both our initial handling of these complaints and our compliance with the recommendations made.

‘We apologise for any distress and inconvenience caused in these cases. An internal investigation did produce recommendations for future improvements and we are taking steps to ensure that the appropriate actions are now taken forward.’

Mr King commented: ‘I am pleased the council has acknowledged and identified there have been problems with its complaint handling. However, it should not have taken our intervention – including months of chasing, and our decision to register new complaints – to trigger this.

‘This report demonstrates the efforts to which we go, to ensure councils follow-through on their commitments to put things right, and how we will hold them to account if they don’t. I hope councils across the country will take lessons from it and ensure their own complaints arrangements meet the standards both we, and the people they serve, expect.’

Photo: Wikimedia Commons/NotFromUtrecht

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Director of Public Health

Royal Borough of Greenwich
Up to £131,210
The Public Health department is at the heart of the council’s business. Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Head of Regeneration and Growth

Plymouth City Council
£68,387 - £74,411 (MFS and relocation available, pay award pending)
This is a unique opportunity to lead our award-winning development team and directly deliver hundreds of millions of pounds of projects. Plymouth, Devon
Recuriter: Plymouth City Council

Director of Adult Social Care

Wiltshire Council
£119,390 - £127,137
Join us as the Director of Adult Social Care and make a real difference to people’s lives. Wiltshire
Recuriter: Wiltshire Council

Assistant Director Planning, Performance & Engagement

East Sussex County Council
up to £97,700
With strong local communities, unspoilt countryside and vibrant coastal towns, East Sussex offers an exceptional quality of life to many. East Sussex
Recuriter: East Sussex County Council

Director of Finance & Commerce

Lancashire County Council
Up to £114,339
You will play a critical role in driving the organisation through complex change and innovation. Lancashire
Recuriter: Lancashire County Council
Linkedin Banner