Tell Us What You Think

 

 

 

 

Formal complaints received by the service, whether written or verbal, are acknowledged and recorded. Where action can be taken to address a complaint, this always happens. We receive relatively few complaints/negative comments but always welcome customer feedback.

 

 

Comments and compliments are also recorded and acted upon. If a comment can help us to improve the services that we provide, we will ensure that we do everything possible to ensure this happens.

 

 

Comment: If the Council is interested in the Environment, why is so much paper wasted in producing Council Tax bills, vouchers and leaflets?

 

Response: The Council tax bills are printed on a standard A4 size of paper.  We have statutory obligations to include both legal and financial information on the bill and therefore use A4 to ensure this information is communicated clearly.   Also, by using the A4 size the bills can be dispatched via the mailing machine hence reducing the costs.

 

The payment vouchers are sent out to all customers who have indicated that they wish to pay their bill by cash or that is how they have paid it in previous years. 

 

We also have a statutory obligation to produce a leaflet containing information on the council tax bands, the benefits available, explaining where the money is spent etc. 

 

Complaint: Why can’t Council Tax increases be no more than the rate of inflation?

 

Response: City Council services are funded predominantly by Central Government and council tax income actually covers 14% of our spending.  The main source of funding from Central Government increased in 2007/2008 by 2.2% in actual cash terms.  Cost increases in some of our services outstrip this increase and efficiencies and savings have again had to be found to ensure investment in priority areas.  Additional investment of £11.5m has been made in 2007/2008 in areas such as social care, waste collection and disposal and the city’s sporting facilities and parks.