The day-to-day lives of everybody are affected by the actions of local government, and so it is therefore important that any problems with its operation are acknowledged and resolved satisfactorily.
Maladministration
A major complaint within local government operation is maladministration. This is defined as the something the council has done wrong, or not done at all, that has adversely affected a member of the public. This could include a failure to reply, unsatisfactory record keeping, delay, failure to supply information or misleading or false statements.
This bad practice by councils succeeds only in harming the community they are elected to serve and tarnishing the reputation of the government as a whole. It is therefore imperative that complaints about local government maladministration are filed and pursued to a resolution.
Where Should a Complaint Be Made?
Complaints should firstly be directed to the local office responsible for the service highlighted. For instance, this could be a local housing office, a school, social services office or local authority centre.
Alternatively if the complaint is about a serious breach that cannot be resolved at ground level, then it can be taken directly to the complaints officer at the head office of the appropriate service.
Complaints can also usually be submitted online at the local authority website.
Who is at Fault?
Many complaints are resolved satisfactorily at a local level, however in recent years there have been an alarming number of cases where a complainant is made to feel that they are in fact at fault, despite strong evidence and arguments proving the council officers were in the wrong.
Tell us what went wrong and find out which ombudsman or regulator can help, whether it is worth escalating, and exactly how to take your complaint further.
Try our Which Ombudsman Do I Need? free, here on this site →The Next Rung up the Complaint Ladder
If the local council fails to provide a satisfactory resolution to a complaint or even acknowledge any claims of maladministration, then complainants can always move up a step and let an independent and impartial observer uncover the truth.
But how fair and unbiased really is the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) in investigating complaints? There are many people within the UK that are wholly unconvinced by the adjudication of the LGO.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
The Impartial Watchdog?
Recent years have seen a whirlwind of controversy surround the Local Government Ombudsman institution and its supposed impartially. The Ombudsman Watch, Public Service Ombudsman Watchers and LGO Watcher are a few of websites set up to expose how biased the LGO is in favour of the local councils it is supposed to investigate objectively, and in with the funding of the taxpayer.
Amongst the sizable evidence supporting these claims, the site draws attention to the disturbing fact that all three current Local Government Ombudsmen were themselves previously chief executive officers of local authorities. In addition to this, a large number of the LGO’s investigators have also worked in local government prior to their appointment.
Statistics also show that in all the complaints submitted to the watchdog, on average less than 2% are deemed to have justified claims of maladministration, a figure dramatically lower than the real level of ‘bad practice’ believed to occur in local government.
Sectors of Decency
Although there is ample evidence to suggest that the dismissive treatment a great number of complaints about local governments receive is unjust and unacceptable, this is not to say that there are not local authorities that uphold their responsibilities and act in a decent and conscientious manner.
Always Speak Out
Either way it is always worth making a complaint. Regardless of reports of malpractice, the public should keep the system working by speaking out when something is wrong, however frustrating it may be to find a resolution. Everybody makes mistakes, but as long as there is a readiness to acknowledge them and take action, then matters can move forward.
I was fighting for my life after multiple health complications and unable to access healthcare or social care - local authorities collude in corruption to leave vulnerable people isolated to die and then forge records to fabricate alibi for deaths caused by neglect. When you go to the Local Government Ombudsman you will find the reason you are sent there is because they assist the councils to cover up crime and neglect - don't be fooled because they disguise as an independent body to protect the public. The only cases they find fault and publish are minor - serious corruption and systematic neglect happening across the UK is being covered up and MPs are turning a blind eye.
Any advice, as i know the LGO decision is final and cant be challenged.
I first raised a complaint about maladministration with the Councils own Complaints Team in 2016 which was never dealt with - when pursued they then claimed they had issued a final decision letter (which if they had they never sent to me) - I took the matter to the Ombudsman in 2017 & was told I had taken it to them to early (!!!!) and they referred it back to the Council to respond in full to my original complaint which included my questioning how the Deed of Guarantor came into being as I did not sign it!!!!
I was told by the LGO office that if I was unsatisfied with the response from the County Council I could take my complaint back to them & they would take into account any delays by the County Council.
I finally received a response from the County Council in March 2018 (5 months after the LGO referred the matter back to them) they left many of my original issues unanswered including how the Deed of Guarantor came into being).
I took the matter back to the LGO waited weeks to be allocated an Investigating Officer who then in a matter of a few days deemed I had left it too late to refer my complaint to the LGO & declined to investigate any of my original complaints of maladministration & deemed that the Council were completely justified in pursuing me for the debt as they have a document signed by me making me liable for the debt - you tell me how that is an independent service!!!! And how can one LGO officer say I'd taken my complaint to them too early & refer it back to the County Council concerned & then another say I'd left it too late. I spoke to the investigation officer on the phone & she was rude, talked down to me as if I was trash & basically said I should find the £11,000 & pay up it wasn't for her to decide if the Council had acted in any way inappropriately regarding how my signature ended up on the Deed of Guarantor!!!!!!!
Where do I go from here - the County Council are now threatening me with Court Action!!!!
Poppi Worthington died and Cumbria Police lost all the evidence- and the scrutiny system does not exist there.
LGO should protect the public not hide the evidence of its own and others wrongdoing.
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