COMPLAINTS about the way the city council handles complaints from members of the public rocketed by 71% in the last year.

The figure represents how many “Have Your Say” grievances have had to go to the third stage, the final one before the local government Ombudsman can intervene.

A report to go before a council scrutiny committee also revealed that the number of compliments paid to council services was down 14% on last year.

The subjects which generate the most complaints about failure to properly deal with an issue raised were rubbish and recycling collections and taxi drivers’ behaviour.

For the last two years, 26% of complainants did not receive a response during the proper timescale.

Opposition leaders said the figures were deeply worrying, but the council said part of the reason for the increase was that the Ombudsman had changed the rules so that they would not deal with any complaints which had not been through all three stages.

Cabinet member for finance and resources, Cllr Paul Brant, said: “Everyone who takes a complaint to the next stage is not happy with the response, but that doesn’t always mean the complaint is not being addressed properly, just that people may not feel satisfied with the response.”

Of those unsatisfied with the council’s response, 20% said they were aggrieved at the “lack of a written response.”