Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council (03C11352)

Leisure and culture                     Maladministration causing injustice

19 July 2006

‘Mr May’ (not his real name for legal reasons) complained on behalf of local residents about the way the Council dealt with a project to create new leisure facilities in his village. He says that, because of Council failings, funding from Sport England was lost and with it the opportunity to develop sporting and social facilities on a scale which later proved impossible.

The Ombudsman found significant maladministration by the Council in terms of administrative failures, avoidable delay and wasted money. Although the Ombudsman recognised that funding from Sport England was never guaranteed, she did conclude on the balance of probabilities that, but for the maladministration by the Council, a scheme close to the wishes and plans of local residents would have been achieved. The Ombudsman regards the loss of such a scheme as a significant injustice to the local community.

In an attempt to settle the complaint the Council offered to refurbish existing tennis courts and to upgrade them to include an all-weather multi games area with floodlighting for winter use. This has been accepted by Mr May on behalf of the local community. In view of this, and giving the Council credit for this positive response, the Ombudsman did not seek any further remedy. The Council has already agreed to review the procedures surrounding the development of proposals such as was involved here. Additionally the Ombudsman recommends that the Council should review its arrangements for involvement in community projects, prepare a protocol for elected member involvement in external meetings, and review the capacity of its valuation service.

Date Updated: 14/01/09