Sandwell Council's complaints bill

More than 100 official complaints were lodged with Sandwell Council and the authority paid out almost £3,825 in 10 settlements last year.

There were a total of 123 complaints, with one report of maladministration issued against the council, after it failed to follow its own practice to rehouse a wife and her husband with mental health issues.

The council agreed to pay £500 for the distress caused and changed its three review panels on rehousing to one, to include a member with medical knowledge in future.

Local government ombudsman Dr Jane Martin said: "This year we issued one report against the council.

"I am pleased that the council and Sandwell Homes were very willing to recognise the distress and inconvenience caused to these complainants by agreeing to take action when my office became involved."

An adult social care complaint also cost the council £1,250 after an internal investigation, the Local Government Ombudsman's annual review ending March 31 this year showed.

The council's investigation revealed shortcomings in its own practice of transferring one young person with substantial physical disabilities from children to adult services.

And the council paid one resident £1,000 after giving confusing advice about a neighbour's house extension, while bosses resolved to review the guidance they gave residents about extensions in future.

There were five housing repair cases settled with payments totalling £900 for poor quality work, missing appointments or poor practice leading to tenants' belongings being damaged.

The review also detailed another case where the council changed a decision on support for a mature student after it notified her and paid money to the university.

Dr Martin added: "The complainant had relied on that decision and the later withdrawal of funding caused her considerable distress because of the plans she had made."

The council arranged another source of funding which covered all of her fees rather than the 75 per cent first agreed, paying £375 to right the injustice.

A delay in a housing care case saw the council offer alternative accommodation late after damage caused by storms.

The council failed to implement its own remedy before the householder contacted the watchdog. The council paid the victim £250 as well as taking the promised action.

Of the 123 complaints made to the Ombudsman's advice team, 53 were investigated.

In 23 of those cases no maladministration was found.