Bracknell council has paid nearly £8,000 to parents and other people who have complained about the services it provides.
Bracknell council has forked out nearly £8,000 to parents and others who complained about its services.
Local authorities handle various responsibilities, including education support and addressing homelessness. If someone is unhappy with the service, they can follow a statutory complaints process.
If still dissatisfied, they can turn to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, who can investigate and recommend compensation for faults and injustices.
In 2024/25, all 11 complaints investigated against Bracknell Forest Council were upheld, leading to symbolic payments for complainants.
The total payout reached £7,950, with the largest sum of £3,000 going to a mum who claimed inadequate alternative education for her child. This included £2,500 for missed special education needs and £500 for distress.
Another mum received £2,315 after her complaint, with £1,915 designated for her son's educational needs and £400 for the family's stress.
In a recent case, a mum was awarded £950 after the ombudsman investigated her son's tuition. This covered £450 for private tuition, £400 for avoidable distress, and £100 for delays in handling her complaint.
Other parents received payments of £250-£300 for similar issues.
Kevin Gibbs, the council’s executive director for communities, stated, “The council takes all Ombudsman findings seriously and always seeks to learn from them. This total remedy amount reflects a small number of cases, but each one represents a resident who felt something could have been done better. While we have low figures compared to similar councils, we use each case to improve our services.”
Notably, the council had one of the lowest complaint rates for its size in the country. A report on these investigations was presented to the council's overview and scrutiny commission on October 16.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
