Middleton Councillor criticised over Council comments

The Chairman of the Middleton Township, Councillor Ian Robertson, has been criticised following his comments at the recent meeting of Rochdale Borough Council.  Councillor Robertson commented on the Liberal Democrat Administration plan for a new Council department - to be be called the 'People's Champion'.  Talks within the Council are at an advanced stage and the intention is the new department will independently investigate any complaint that a resident has about the Council.
 
Lib Dem Leader of Rochdale Council, Councillor Alan Taylor, said: "I find Councillor Robertson's attitude absolutely crazy, here is an opportunity for the people of Middleton to have a Council department that looks at their complaints independently.  Too many people hit brick walls in their dealings with this Council.  Complaints are passed from pillar to post and we believe this department will play a key role in rebuilding the confidence of Middleton residents in Council Services.  Councillor Robertson should look past his political allegiances and realise that this Department will transform the way council complaints are looked at.  Currently the only redress is the Council Ombudsman - this is a long and drawn out process that causes great frustration to residents and politicians alike."
 
Councillor Robertson stated at the Council meeting that he was against this proposal, saying that his Ward of North Middleton would "opt out of the scheme". 

Councillor Taylor continued: "I am sure there are many residents in Middleton who have been frustrated by beauracracy at the Council.  This department will make sure that the resident is put first and complaints are dealt with speedily.  Unfortunately, Councillor Robertson has already declared that he will not support this; I hope that the Middleton Township ignores him.  It is a shame but I can assure residents that this will happen in Middleton even if Councillor Robertson disagrees."

Responding to the criticism, Ian Robertson said: "If any residents of my ward have dealings with the Council and find that 'their complaint is passed from pillar to post', then I want to know about it. I see it as one of my prime responsibilities to the residents of my ward to resolve these issues. And it is a responsibility I don't want to be taken away from me and given to an anonymous officer up in Rochdale.

"Councillor Taylor says 'this department will transform the way council complaints are looked at'. The last thing the Council needs is yet another department. It is already overstuffed with departments and competing bureaucracies. And more bureaucracy means higher Council Tax. Who is going to pay for this 'new department'? Of course the Council Taxpayers. I agree that 'the council need to transform the way it deals with complains', but it has to be done from the bottom up, not by another layer on top.

"From what I know of issues, concerns and the number of complaints received by the council, I do believe that the complaints we are receiving are only the tip of the iceberg. If anything we need to be encouraging residents to complain more!

"So, in a nutshell - please, please, please, No More Bureaucracy! Address this problem where it starts - in the Council's Services."