AN ombudsman saw an overall drop in complaints about Ceredigion council last year, although complaints about environmental matters increased five-fold, a council report has revealed.

And planning remains the council’s most complained about service, making up well over a third of complaints, the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales Nick Bennett has revealed in a report seen by members of Ceredigion County Council’s ethics and standards committee on Friday.

But despite an overall increase in Mr Bennett’s caseload across Wales, the council saw a 16 per cent drop in total complaints received by the ombudsman.

Mr Bennett praised the council for its “proactive approach” in appointing a new complaints team.

A letter sent from Mr Bennett’s office to then chief executive, Bronwyn Morgan, states: “In reference to your local authority there was a drop in the number of complaints received (from 38 to 32).

“Although there were fewer complaints about planning this year (12 compared to 17 in 2015/16) it was still the most complained about area.

“Environment saw an increase from one to five to become the second area with the most complaints. PSOW [Public Service Ombudsman for Wales] intervention was required in 21 per cent of cases."

Mr Bennett’s report reveals that after planning (12 complaints), environment and environmental health (five), housing (four), education, complaints and handling, and children’s social services (all two) were the next most complained about services.

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition on Wednesday