Crap Towns / West Berkshire / Ombudsman complaints

How often does the ombudsman find against West Berkshire council?

In 2025-26 the ombudsman decided 48 complaints and enquiries about West Berkshire council, investigated 5 and upheld 4. That's an uphold rate of 80%, against 85% for similar councils. Per 100,000 residents that's 2.4 upheld, against 5.6 for similar councils. It had already put things right in 0% of upheld cases, against 13% for similar councils. Told to put things right, it did in 100% of 4 cases, 2 on time.

**What the ombudsman decided, 2025-26**
Outcome	Complaints and enquiries
Upheld	4
Not upheld	1
Closed after first enquiries	25
Sent back to the council to sort out first	18
Advice given	0
Invalid or incomplete	0
All decided	48

**What people complained about, 2025-26**
Service	Complaints and enquiries received
Education and children's services	32
Bins, environment and public protection	10
Planning	10
Adult social care	8
Benefits and tax	7
Highways and transport	5
Housing	5
Corporate and other services	2
Other	0

**Nearby councils**
Council	Upheld per 100,000 residents, 2025-26
Wokingham	8.0
Reading	3.8
Wiltshire	3.6
Swindon	2.5
West Berkshire	2.4
Vale of White Horse	2.0
Test Valley	0.7
South Oxfordshire	0.6
Basingstoke and Deane	0.0
Hart	0.0