Watchdog's 'horror' over council
A council has been criticised "in the strongest possible terms" over how it dealt with a tenant who suffered racist abuse, noise and intimidation.
Conwy Council was told by Wales' public services watchdog to apologise, pay her £2,500 every year until the problem is resolved, and update its procedures.
The ombudsman found the council failed to recognise the severity of problems with a neighbour and to take action.
The council said its cabinet would consider the report soon.
The report by Adam Peat, the public services ombudsman for Wales, found there had been "extensive systematic maladministration leading to personal injustice of the complainant".
In his report he said: "I wish to express my horror at the experiences endured by (the complainant) and her son; and the impact that these, and the failures of the council, have had on the quality of their lives over three years and I can fully understand her feeling that these matters have 'wrecked my life'."
Mr Peat attacked Conwy "in the strongest possible terms" for its lack of procedures to deal with the problem.
On a list of recommendations the ombudsman said the council should apologise to the tenant and her family, bring its procedures up to date and take appropriate action against the neighbours.
It was also recommended the council pay the complainant, from the Abergele area, £2,500 per year until the time the problem is resolved.
A council spokeswoman said the cabinet had set up an anti-social behaviour sub-committee "well before this ombudsman report".
"The committee will look at our systems and their work is concluding, with a report and recommendations going before cabinet at the end of September," said the spokeswoman.
The sub-committee had heard from officers, police, tenants' representatives and visited another local authority to get ideas, she added.
Source: The BBC (25/08/2006)
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