Purpose

The purpose of this report is to share the Public Services
Ombudsman for Wales Annual Letter 2024-25 for Flintshire County
Council. The Annual Letter provides an overview of the performance
of the Council in relation to complaints of maladministration
received between 1 April 2024 - 31 March
2025.  This report also provides an
overview of complaints received by each portfolio of Flintshire
County Council in the first half 2025-26 (1 April 2025 -
30 September 2025).

Content

That the Committee:
 

(a)    Notes for the first
time in three years, there has been a 20% increase in complaints
against Flintshire County Council, which aligns with the average
increase across local authorities in Wales;

 

(b)    Welcomes the
Council’s lower-than-average intervention rate by the
Ombudsman, its strong performance in complying with Ombudsman
recommendations, and the fact that no formal investigations have
been instigated for the third consecutive year;

 

(c)    Notes the
Council’s half-year performance (2025-26) in handling
complaints in accordance with the Council’s Concerns and
Complaints Policy; and

 

(d)    Welcomes the priorities
outlined in paragraph 1.27.