There seems to be no let up for Swindon Council.
If it is not being reprimanded by the Government for failures in education and social services, then the Local Government Ombudsman is upholding complaints against it.
The latest case involves an eyesore mast being placed in the middle of a residential street, even though it had been refused planning permission. But the planning department failed to object within a designated 28-day time limit and residents' complaints were upheld.
It is the second complaint upheld by the Ombudsman against Swindon Council since it was formed in 1997 and it now means the already cash-strapped authority could face paying thousands of pounds in compensation to residents who say their homes have lost value.
One can only imagine the morale within council departments as a result of these errors. And once more, a question mark remains over the manner in which council departments are being run.
Either these 'mistakes' are one-offs, or there is a more deep-seated problem. Let's hope it is the former.
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