THREE complaints made to the local government watchdog about Darlington Borough Council in the past month have all been dismissed.
The first was made by a tenant who complained the council refused to replace his shower with a bath and had threatened to evict him when he did not pay his water rates, even though he was in receipt of housing benefit.
A council spokesman explained that there was no identified need for the tenant to have a bath, it was merely his preference. He added that housing benefit did not include water rates.
The Local Government Ombudsman dismissed the complaint.
The second was against planning permission granted by the council. The ombudsman ruled the complaint was premature, and told the complainant to use the council's complaints procedure.
The third complaint related to an offer of a council house that was withdrawn. Again, the ombudsman ruled it was premature as no initial complaint was made to the council.
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