Leon Fisher, at 12:40pm 7th Jan 2010, wrote:

If i was you Ray i would ring Citizens Advice Bureau and speak to them regarding this and they will contact your local council and make it known that a complaint has been made and the council will send you a alpology letter and them promising to do what every you need

Thanks Leon Fisher

owen, at 12:48pm 7th Jan 2010, wrote:

Local councils will not change as they have the monopoly of raising and spending money raised from the community (we the residents don’t have an option in paying council tax). I would like to see the break up of the big county council and return to a more local arrangement. This then might make local councillors more responsive to their communities, instead of hiding behind the excuse of a large inefficient bureaucracy.

Jason, at 1:25pm 7th Jan 2010, wrote:

My local council is always breaking its promises.

Only two weeks ago when the first fall of snow came, we were promised that all roads in the area would be cleared and gritted. They were not.

We were told that it would be rectified asap. It was not.

I decided to walk to the local councilors house to speak to them. I could not believe how clear of snow not only the roads were, but also the footpaths. What i saw was enough. i did not call to the councilors house as it was obvious to me that the councilors were looking after themselves and their neighbours in that vicinity.

There were no shops, doctors, dentists etc around them, just houses. But were i live, shops, doctors, dentists, schools, library, etc, and not one bit of grit laid.

That is poor customer service.

Gareth Jaxon, at 1:27pm 7th Jan 2010, wrote:

I have and still are waiting for work in my flat to be completed since December 2008. Admitted the work to be completed is not major or life threatening but it all adds up. I am waiting for the wallpaper to be removed in my bedroom and for the plastering to be done after they removed the back boiler. A firedoor to be painted and several silly little jobs, that I could do myself but why should I.

bah humbug, at 3:02pm 8th Jan 2010, wrote:

We have had no refuse collection for over 3 weeks in certain areas of West Yorkshire, the Council citing that it's due to the snow. Funny how the ambulance, police and fire service and public transport all seem to cope! Imagine if they all withdrew their services indefinatly but continued to receive tax payers money for doing nothing, except in this case create a public health problem?

Where it comes to County Councils I feel there is no accountability. It's appalling and unacceptable and yet we're expected to accept it. When I raised the question of why they had not been I was told "snow and don't expect them anytime soon either."

If I spoke to someone like that I would be sacked. They should be ashamed.

George Davison, at 12:01pm 17th Jan 2010, wrote:

In general i think most councils do a reasonable job. However, the Liberal council in newcastle seem to favour wasting money on petty tidying up than urgent things. Were i live in Kingston Park they have spent a fortune on using the old recycling bins and filling them with plants etc, and tying them to the street corner street indicators. Worst thing is, the plants grow that tall you can not see the street name. They spend money on replacing flag stones were they have been broken by illegally parked vehicles, instead of fining these would be law breakers.

Liz Harrison, at 9:05pm 27th Jan 2010, wrote:

I work as a customer service rep myself and would be fired in about 2 minutes if I didn't give callers 100% attention and respect. (As my attitude to everything is to always treat people the way I would like to be treated in the same situation this is easy for me). My employer keeps winning awards for the service we provide, so I know the standards are good whilst our Council aren't too bad, better than in other places I've lived. I had cause to report a problem today and was treated properly and assured that another resident had also reported it (no names given which was also correct with the dreaded Data Protection Act) and given an explanation of why it was ongoing, rather than resolved quickly, so I think St. Helen's, whilst not beating my employers (a well-known shopping channel) can be given a pat on the back. In the bad weather they made strenuous efforts to look after the vulnerable residents, along with the local housing associations. Probably didn't get to everyone, but at least they tried.

louise cassidy, at 10:01am 28th Jan 2010, wrote:

councils are not all they are cracked up to be - they listen diligently when they are receiving praise for something - but as soon as they get wind of someone wanting a service or not being happy they seam to suddenly become deaf or complacent - i am disaabled and have breen told by my council that i cannot have or be inclusded on the housing list for a bungalow - i have also had a problem witrh my home for over 2 years and have actually been told i am imagining the problem - the lengths councils will go to get out of providing services is endless.

seudo, at 12:59pm 29th Jan 2010, wrote:

I went to my local councillor for support last September & I am still waiting for that (support agreement) answer. I bought a piece of land from the council adjacent to my property, paid £2,500 plus their solicitors fees & mine. Have now been told I have to pay a further £335 pounds to be able to use it, (change of use ruling applied by the council) that I was never told about & I cannot even put a shed on it.???? Why did I buy the land? because the council owned the land & I had to ask for right of way across it to get to my own house?????

Josie

Emma Singleton, at 11:07am 30th Jan 2010, wrote:

I do not rate our local council and too have been let down with refuge and other services such as planning.

Our christmas refuge has only just gone and bow even when it has been frosty we are getting the roads gritted why didn't they do this when we needed it?

As for planning application department dn't get me started on that.

Why is it we pay so much in taxes?

Mrs Mary Valentine, at 10:01pm 5th Feb 2010, wrote:

Dear Malcolm Harper you ask why you should do work in your flat when it is up to the council to do it for you. You amaze me, I am 72 and I have been doing all my own decorating since I learned how to do it from my Uncle when I was a teenager.

Surely you want your home to be comfortable? then why not get to work.

The Council/Government do not have to do everything for you.

lou, at 9:27pm 23rd Feb 2010, wrote:

I completely agree with you Mary same here.

My local council are normally really good but just recently our heating has been going, and i asked three times for someone to come out and fix it but no one has, they just keep promising me that it will be done soon. Ah well i suppose there very busy but i just want a curtsy call to tell me what is going on, just so i don't feel totally out on a limb and alone.

dean burtenshaw, at 1:07am 2nd Mar 2010, wrote:

Think yourselves lucky you dont live in the london borough of hillingdon the council there are the biggest shambles ever