ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE 
 
11th February 2009 at 6.00 p.m. 
 
 
PRESENT:  Councillors Stewart (Chair), Pedersen, Saleem and 
Simmons. 
 
 
IN ATTENDANCE:  Councillor Rutstein 
 
5 
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE (REF: 2) 
 
 
Apologies for absence from the meeting were received on behalf of 
Councillors Akbar, Chapman and R. Davies. 
 
6 
MINUTES (REF: 3.1) 
 
 Resolved: That the Minutes of the meeting held on the 12th January 
2009 be taken as read, approved as a correct record and the Chair be 
authorised to sign them. 
 
7 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT OMBUDSMAN RECOMMENDATION – ‘MR 
AND MRS NORTON’ (REF: 8) 
 
 
The Head of Street Services presented a report on an investigation by 
the Local Government Ombudsman into the complaint of Mr and Mrs Norton..  
The Ombudsman had found that maladministration had occurred and 
recommended that the Council apologise to Mr and Mrs Norton and pay them 
compensation of £30,320. 
 
 
The Head of Street Services advised that additional steps had also 
been taken and there was a continuing investigation into the circumstances 
that led to the maladministration occurring. 
 
 
Mr Norton addressed the Committee and read out the report that he 
had written and had previously submitted to the Council.  He informed the 
Committee that his wife and he had suffered 19 months of stress because of 
the matter. He requested that the Council accept the Ombudsman’s 
recommendations. 
 
 
Resolved: (i) That the report (Ref: 8) be noted. 
 
 
(ii) That an apology should be issued and the sum of £30,320 should 
be paid to the complainants, Mr and Mrs Norton, as recommended by the 
Local Government Ombudsman. 
 
(Notes:  (i) The names of the complainants in Minute 7 are the 
pseudonyms used in the Ombudsman’s report. 
 
 
(ii) The meeting ended at 6.25 pm) 

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