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Complaints and comments

If you feel that we’ve done something wrong or you’ve not received the standard of service you expect, you can complain to us.

We provide a wide range of services, and always strive to make sure that they are both high quality and value for money.

We’re keen to hear your comments, both positive and negative, to ensure our services are working as well as possible for you.

Making a complaint

Roads, pavement and street lighting

If the issue you are reporting is related to a problem with a road, pavement or street light and you’ve not reported it before, please use our online highways reporting form

Making a complaint to the Council in British Sign Language

British Sign Language video telling you what to do if you want to make a complaint about council services (duration 2:21).

Making a complaint to the Council in British Sign Language

Most problems can be resolved by talking through the issue with either the person you’ve been dealing with or their manager.

However if you’d like to make a complaint, fill in our online complaints form.

Adult social care

 

If you think a vulnerable adult is being abused by a care worker or in a care home report it to Adult Social Care.

If you’re unhappy with the standard of care you or someone else is getting at home from a care worker or a care home, speak to the care worker or manager of the care agency or care home.

If you’re not happy with their response, contact Adult Social Care.

If you’re unhappy about decisions made by Adult Social Care about your care and support, speak to your allocated social care worker or their manager.

If you’re not happy with the response from Adult Social Care, contact the Customer Relations Manager using the online complaints form or write, email or telephone using the contact details at the bottom of this page.

Investigating your complaint

We will write to you within 3 days of receiving your complaint to tell you we have received it.  We will tell you who will be investigating it and when you can expect an answer.

We will investigate the complaint and depending on the seriousness of the complaint, we may ask an independent investigator to look at it.  We may ask you to meet us and the care provider to find a solution to the problem.

We will write to you to tell you the results of our investigation.

We aim to respond to most complaints within 20 working days but the statutory procedures allow up to 65 working days for the investigation of more complex complaints.

If you’re not happy with our investigation

Contact the Customer Relations Manager if you’re not happy with the findings of our investigation or how we’ve dealt with your complaint.

Contact the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman if you’re still not happy after contacting the Customer Relations Manager.

The Ombudsman will usually expect you to have gone through the council’s complaints process before they can consider your complaint.

Schools

We don’t have any role in school complaints; you should contact your child’s school directly.

For more information on making a complaint to a school, see Complain about a school.

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Conduct of Councillors

Complaints about councillors are dealt with by our Monitoring Officer.

The Monitoring Officer determines whether or not the complaint can be resolved informally. If it cannot be dealt with informally, it could then be referred to the Member Conduct Panel.

If you would like to make a complaint please check the guidance and online councillor complaint form.

Further reading

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