Ombudsman
Gove criticises social housing landlord after ‘severe maladministration’ finding
Levelling up secretary Michael Gove has criticised England's largest social housing landlord after an investigation found it was guilty of ‘severe maladministration’.
Social housing Bill 'imminent'
Housing minister Eddie Hughes this week insisted the Government would bring forward a social housing Bill ‘as quickly as possible’ as he apologised for delays.
Social landlord faces wide-ranging probe
The UK’s largest social landlord faces a wide-ranging investigation into its handling of residents’ complaints after a watchdog reported ‘severe maladministration’ in a high-profile case.
Former Haringey leader takes legal action against Ombudsman
Former leader of Haringey LBC, Joseph Ejiofor, has issued legal proceedings to challenge the Local Government Ombudsman’s decision to name him in a report.
Housing ombudsman reports dramatic complaints increase
A dramatic increase in complaints has been reported to the housing ombudsman service, MPs have been told.
Be on the front foot for housing rules
With a new Social Housing Regulation Bill expected to become law this summer, Kelsey Walker looks at how local authorities can get ready for the new regime and prepare for performance measurement.
Councils speak up on adult social care reforms
If the Government’s adult social care charging reforms are underfunded ‘they run the risk of falling at the first hurdle’, says chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board Cllr David Fothergill.
Councils must learn from COVID complaints
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s report on the first 18 months of its investigations linked to COVID suggests that huge pressure pushed on already-present fault lines. Michael Hyatt explains.
Dealing with complaints became ‘casualty of crisis,’ Ombudsman says
COVID-19 ‘magnified stresses’ that councils were already faced with before the pandemic and dealing with complaints became a ‘casualty,’ a new report has said.
Complaints procedures 'marginalised' by councils
Local government ombudsman Michael King has raised concerns about how councils handle complaints.
EXCLUSIVE: Ombudsman drive to name and shame councils
The local government ombudsman wants to ramp up the naming and shaming of councils that fail to adequately handle complaints.
Government can’t keep ‘flying blind’ on council finances
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is 'licking its fingers and sticking them in the air in an attempt to test the temperature of local authority funding', says Heather Jameson.
Call for fresh powers from ombudsman
England’s local government ombudsman today demands wide-ranging new powers to investigate complaints across town halls, social care and education amid concern current regimes are outdated.
Minister eyes council intervention
The Northern Ireland communities minister has said she will not hesitate to intervene in troubled Mid and East Antrim BC.
Ombudsman launches planning probe
The Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman has launched an investigation into how a council dealt with a complaint about a planning application.
Pressure rises on Gove to build social housing
Pressure was this week mounting on new housing secretary Michael Gove to ramp up the building of social homes amid predictions of growing homelessness.
Ombudsman: Care system failing to deliver
Funding problems rather than individual errors explain a ‘relentless rise’ in the proportion of social care complaints upheld by the local government ombudsman, the watchdog has said.
Complaints’ outcomes are open for all of us to shape
This summer’s snapshot of complaints trends paints a ‘fascinating picture’, says local government and social care ombudsman Michael King.
Review highlights 'widening cracks' in council complaints systems
The local government ombudsman has warned about the erosion to the way complaints are being handled by councils.
Council criticised for increasing care admin costs 200%
The London Borough of Bexley has agreed to revise its social care charging policy after the administration costs for one resident’s care increased 200%.
