Crap Towns / Bath and North East Somerset / Ombudsman complaints

How often does the ombudsman find against Bath and North East Somerset council?

In 2025-26 the ombudsman decided 45 complaints and enquiries about Bath and North East Somerset council, investigated 11 and upheld 9. That's an uphold rate of 82%, against 85% for similar councils. Per 100,000 residents that's 4.5 upheld, against 5.6 for similar councils. It had already put things right in 22% of upheld cases, against 13% for similar councils. Told to put things right, it did in 100% of 7 cases, 6 on time.

**What the ombudsman decided, 2025-26**
Outcome	Complaints and enquiries
Upheld	9
Not upheld	2
Closed after first enquiries	19
Sent back to the council to sort out first	10
Advice given	3
Invalid or incomplete	2
All decided	45

**What people complained about, 2025-26**
Service	Complaints and enquiries received
Education and children's services	18
Adult social care	16
Benefits and tax	7
Highways and transport	4
Housing	4
Planning	4
Corporate and other services	3
Bins, environment and public protection	2
Other	1

**Nearby councils**
Council	Upheld per 100,000 residents, 2025-26
Somerset	9.5
Bristol	4.7
Bath and North East Somerset	4.5
South Gloucestershire	3.9
Wiltshire	3.6
North Somerset	3.1