THE Local Government Ombudsman for York has found that City of York Council has "caused injustice" only once in the last year.

Figures within the recently released Ombudsman's report show that in the last financial year the Ombudsman found only one occasion where the council had caused injustice through maladministration.

There were none in 2001/02.

Last year's case referred to a complaint made about the council's handling of allegations about a noisy neighbour.

There were no occasions where the Ombudsman reached a verdict of maladministration with no injustice caused, the same as in 2001/02.

North Yorkshire County Council had four complaints of maladministration causing injustice, although at least two of those referred to the same report. Hambleton, Selby and Ryedale District Councils, and Harrogate Borough Council had no complaints dealt with by the Ombudsman.

Scarborough Borough Council had one complaint in each of the last two years, both of which were settled locally.

York-based Ombudsman Patricia Thomas said she was "disappointed" to have had to issue two separate reports about the Scarborough authority's delay in remitting appeals.

Updated: 10:15 Monday, July 14, 2003