Issue - decisions

          The Leader of the Council and the Director of Law and Democratic Services submitted a joint report concerning the Local Government Ombudsman’s Annual Review for 2013/14  that highlighted the annual summary of statistics on the complaints made to the Ombudsman regarding the Council for the year ended 31^st March 2014.

          The Chair welcomed the Local Government Ombudsman’s Annual Review and noted the Borough Council’s performance in comparison with other authorities. He explained that there had been a change in the current year to the way that the Ombudsman classified and recorded complaints. He noted that, for example, in previous years the two cases upheld by Ombudsman would have been listed as “local settlements”. He referred to the Council’s good overall performance and thanked all those officers who dealt with the Ombudsman and with Council complaints generally.

          Councillor Brian Mattock, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, drew attention to the favourable comparison of the performance of Swindon with other similar and neighbouring authorities. Whilst it was recognised that the Council should always seek to avoid any complaints, he welcomed its performance as reflected by the Ombudsman’s statistics. 

          Resolved – (1) That the contents of the Local Government Ombudsman’s Annual Review 2013/14, and that there were no cases of Maladministration by the Council but that two complaints were upheld by the Ombudsman in the year ending 31st March 2014, be noted.

          (2) That the Chief Executive, Board Directors and Heads of Service be requested to continue to ensure that, where possible, complaints are resolved internally before reference to the Local Government Ombudsman and that requests for information from the Local Government Ombudsman are speedily dealt with.

          The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in the report to the meeting.