Issue - meetings

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) provides an independent and impartial service to investigate complaints about Councils, or actions taken by another body on behalf of the Council.

The LGSCO provides a report annually which details the number of enquiries, investigations and resolved complaints for each authority in the past financial year. BCP Council’s annual report is attached as Appendix A

The 2019/20 report shows that the number of enquiries to the LGSCO have risen slightly, as have the investigations, but there has been a fall in the number of investigations upheld by the Ombudsman to 50%. There are no major concerns relating to LGSCO findings.

This report includes some details on the number of complaints to BCP Council in 2019/20 (970). However, inconsistencies within identification, recording and monitoring of complaints across the organisation mean that detailed analysis of this data is currently difficult.

Adults and Children’s Social Care complaints follow a different statutory process and their reports are reviewed at Overview and Scrutiny committee. The Adults Social Care report is attached as Appendix B.

RESOLVED that Cabinet note:-

(a)         the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s Annual Report; and

(b)         the current position with internal complaint reporting

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council

The Deputy Leader presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'F' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were informed that the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) provided an independent and impartial service to investigate complaints about Councils, or actions taken by another body on behalf of the Council, and that the LGSCO provided a report annually which details the number of enquiries, investigations and resolved complaints for each authority in the past financial year.

In relation to this Cabinet were advised that the 2019/20 report shows that the number of enquiries to the LGSCO have risen slightly, as have the investigations, but that there has been a fall in the number of investigations upheld by the Ombudsman to 50%. Further to this Cabinet were advised that there are no major concerns relating to LGSCO findings. 

RESOLVED that Cabinet note:-

(a)         the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s Annual Report; and

(b)         the current position with internal complaint reporting

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council