Crap Towns / West Northamptonshire / Ombudsman complaints

How often does the ombudsman find against West Northamptonshire council?

In 2025-26 the ombudsman decided 173 complaints and enquiries about West Northamptonshire council, investigated 50 and upheld 45. That's an uphold rate of 90%, against 85% for similar councils. Per 100,000 residents that's 10.2 upheld, against 5.6 for similar councils. It had already put things right in 9% of upheld cases, against 13% for similar councils. Told to put things right, it did in 100% of 40 cases, 37 on time.

**What the ombudsman decided, 2025-26**
Outcome	Complaints and enquiries
Upheld	45
Not upheld	5
Closed after first enquiries	62
Sent back to the council to sort out first	53
Advice given	2
Invalid or incomplete	6
All decided	173

**What people complained about, 2025-26**
Service	Complaints and enquiries received
Education and children's services	95
Housing	43
Adult social care	31
Benefits and tax	17
Planning	17
Highways and transport	13
Bins, environment and public protection	8
Corporate and other services	8
Other	1

**Nearby councils**
Council	Upheld per 100,000 residents, 2025-26
Buckinghamshire	11.9
Milton Keynes	11.8
West Northamptonshire	10.2
North Northamptonshire	6.7
Rugby	1.6
Harborough	1.0
Cherwell	0.6
Warwick	0.6
Stratford-on-Avon	0.0