COMPLAINTS against Teignbridge Council investigated by the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) in the 12 months to the end of March, fell from 20 in 2008-2009 to 16 in 2009-2010.

Eight of those were about planning and building control, two public finance including local taxation, two transport and highways and four others.

The Ombudsman treated five as premature, gave advice in another case, and referred the remaining ten to the investigative team, of which four were premature complaints which were resubmitted.

Decisions were made on eight complaints – in two there was no or insufficient evidence of maladministration, two fell outside jurisdiction and one settled locally. The other three were not investigated as there was no significant injustice caused to the complainant.

In the local settlement, the district authority had failed to notify the owner of a neighbouring property about a planning application.

The LGO report states that although proper notification would have had no effect on the outcome of the application, the complainant was denied the opportunity to object.

The council had agreed to pay the complainant £100 in recognition of this lost opportunity, and to review its procedures for neighbour notification.