Crap Towns / Folkestone and Hythe / Ombudsman complaints

How often does the ombudsman find against Folkestone and Hythe council?

In 2025-26 the ombudsman decided 18 complaints and enquiries about Folkestone and Hythe council, investigated 3 and upheld 1. That's an uphold rate of 33%, against 74% for similar councils. Per 100,000 residents that's 0.9 upheld, against 1.0 for similar councils. It had already put things right in 0% of upheld cases, against 15% for similar councils. Told to put things right, it did in 100% of 1 case, 1 on time. Kent County Council, which runs social care, schools and the roads, had 58 upheld of 67 investigated (an uphold rate of 87%).

**What the ombudsman decided, 2025-26**
Outcome	Complaints and enquiries
Upheld	1
Not upheld	2
Closed after first enquiries	10
Sent back to the council to sort out first	3
Advice given	1
Invalid or incomplete	1
All decided	18

**What people complained about, 2025-26**
Service	Complaints and enquiries received
Housing	12
Planning	4
Benefits and tax	3
Corporate and other services	3
Bins, environment and public protection	1
Highways and transport	1
Adult social care	0
Education and children's services	0
Other	0

**Nearby councils**
Council	Upheld per 100,000 residents, 2025-26
Rother	5.2
Ashford	2.1
Canterbury	1.9
Folkestone and Hythe	0.9
Dover	0.0
Hastings	0.0