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Watchdog hits out at council
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SHEFFIELD Council has been criticised by the Local Government Ombudsman for its response to two complaints about housing repairs – including a case in which a tenant waited eight months for a gas service.
When the task was completed, a gas safety certificate was issued despite the flue being unsafe, the ombudsman found.
In her report, the ombudsman said the tenant, who has not been named, made three appointments for the annual gas service to be carried out, none of which were kept by the council’s contractor.
The service was finally carried out eight months after the due date and only once the occupant had consulted a solicitor and threatened the council with legal action.
He became suspicious when a worker called to replace a radiator and asked for access to the flue.
The council admitted the flue needed replacing but the problem was not recorded on the safety certificate.
The tenant called in an independent gas inspector who issued a warning notice about his system and informed the council’s contractor that its work had not complied with safety standards.
Sheffield Council was also criticised over its treatment of a person who had bought a flat under the right to buy scheme. The transaction was delayed while repairs were supposed to be carried out to the roof but as soon as the resident had completed the purchase, it began to leak.
The leaseholder tried to claim on his insurance for the damage but the council sent him an engineers’ report about a different roof and his claim was rejected.
In her annual review of complaints against Sheffield Council, ombudsman Anne Seex said both cases were ‘issues of concern’. She added that the authority was slow to answer her queries.
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Comments
There are 8 comments to this article
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PJ Hughes
Monday, August 29, 2011 at 08:49 AMSounds about right. I waited 6 months for them to do my bedroon floor. And even then, a few of the tiles are coming loose. No point making complaints as they won't be listened to!!
seenitall
Sunday, August 28, 2011 at 07:41 PMSir Taxedalot....how true....the only thing that will shake our rotten bureaucracy to the core will be a scandal of Watergate proportions.People keep alluding to Council corruption but, I wonder, has anyone ever made a serious complaint to the SFO?
Sir Taxedalot
Sunday, August 28, 2011 at 07:36 PMEvery year the LGO criticises Sheffield City Council for the way it treats the people of the city and expresses concerns over the way the council is run. The council are always guilty of deception, laziness, a lack of urgency and contempt for the LGO. And every year the council are allowed to carry on just the same. They never change and it seems nobody can make them. They are above the law and act accordingly.
White Bloke
Sunday, August 28, 2011 at 06:31 PMThe contractors that come out to service your gas appliances DO NOT carry out the work correctly. If you have a service make sure they inspect the integrity of the flue by checking in the bedrooms and loft space when carrying out a flue flow test (smoke bomb). They did not on mine nor any of my neighbors when I asked them. Make sure they do it right as its YOUR life's that will be at risk and not theirs in an event that goes wrong.
yorkshire guy
Sunday, August 28, 2011 at 10:25 AMWe have been waiting for the plasterers to come and fix the walls in the stair well so that we can decorate it. It all started when we first reported it and a plasterer came out and said he was not allowed to do the job because there was a little bit of paper on the wall which took me all of 3 mins to remove and then we had to call them out again and this time an inspector came out and told us it would be 3 months before the work could be done which has now been and gone so I rang them last week to ask when the job would be done and now I have been told it will be at least another 4 months before they can do it.
Charlie Farleigh
Sunday, August 28, 2011 at 09:28 AMAre any of these watchdogs going to hit out over the 331k paid to Bashforth, the 300k Beighton website, the money wasted on Sorby House, the love-in with Hammerson that's cost us jobs and businesses, the illegal lights at Totley or Mothsersoles' failure to ensure that everyone can vote? Thought not!! Mustn't upset the Broomhill brigade!!
Woodseats Sammy
Sunday, August 28, 2011 at 07:59 AMShame you can't comment direct on Bradley Hinkler getting 16 years for murder. Still - here goes - good riddance you arrogant little thug. it's people like you who blight our city's reputation, acting like you're something special. you'll meet some real hard men inside - enjoy.
Woodseats Sammy
Sunday, August 28, 2011 at 07:48 AMThe council have just replaced a large window in the door of our communal block which has been cracked full-length since December 2009 (when it was broken by a council contractor).
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