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How do I give my views and comments? |
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How To Tell Your Council What You Think About The Services We Provide?
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council wants to offer residents a high quality of service. This means listening to your comments and answering any concerns as quickly as possible. The first step in making your views known is to get in touch with the right Department for the particular service about which you would like to comment.
If you are not sure who to contact, you can telephone our main switchboard on Stockton (01642) 393939. If you prefer, you can ask staff at any of our public offices to put you in touch with the right person.
You might prefer to give your views to your Ward Councillor, your elected representative on the Council. Many Councillors have regular drop-in surgeries where you can call without an appointment. Details can be found in the Councillors & Ward Surgeries area. Details also appear in our magazine "Stockton News" as well as local newspapers or you can find out how to contact your Councillor by telephoning our main switchboard on Stockton (01642) 393939 or by calling at any Council office.
What Happens Next?
You can tell us your views by telephone, by letter or face to face by visiting the office of the Department concerned. Or you can use the form below. If you have spoken to your ward councillor he or she will pass on your views or concerns if you agree.
Usually, you can expect an answer within 10 working days. If it is likely to take longer than this for any reason you will be kept informed and told when you will receive a full reply. Our Health & Social Care Department (Social Services etc) must follow a separate procedure. Your concern will be acknowledged within 3 days and a full reply will follow within 28 days in most cases.
Text Phone Users
If your concern or comment is about a Housing Benefits issue you can call our Minicom number which is 01642 393806.
Unhappy With Our Answer?
We will always do our best to help you but we cannot always satisfy everyone's wishes. In this situation you should receive an explanation of the Council's decision.
If you are unhappy with the reply you receive or the way in which your concern has been handled you may wish to take your complaint further.
If this is the case, you can use the on-line form to register your complaint.
Local Government Ombudsman
You also have the right, in some circumstances, to complain to the local Ombudsman, who is independent, about the Council's decision.
The Local Government Ombudsman is an independent person who investigates allegations of maladministration causing injustice to a person who has complained. The Ombudsman investigates complaints about most council matters including housing, planning, education, social services, and council tax.
The Ombudsman who deals with this Council is at:
Beverly House,
17 Shipton Road,
York,
YO30 5FZ
Telephone: 01904 380200
Fax: 01904 663269
The Local Government Ombudsman website is www.lgo.org.uk.
The Standards Board If you have a complaint regarding the standard of behaviour of a councillor the Standards Board can be contacted.
The Standards Board for England was formally established in March 2001. Although set up by Act of Parliament, they are completely independent of government. The Board is responsible for promoting high ethical standards and investigating allegations that members' behaviour may have fallen short of the required standards.
The Board's main task is to ensure that standards of ethical conduct are maintained across authorities and to deal with complaints of misconduct against individual members. Unlike the Ombudsman, it does not deal with issues of corporate maladministration nor seek to secure financial recompense for complainants.
The Standards Board website is www.standardsboard.co.uk |
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