Complaints against Liverpool City Council up by two thirds in four years

Record numbers of Liverpool residents are making complaints against Liverpool City Council, according to records uncovered by the city’s Liberal Democrats.

Figures revealed at Thursday’s Finance and Resources Select Committee show that there were a record 6,208 complaints received by the council in 2024/25, an increase of 7.5% over the previous year. 

However, research by Liberal Democrat Finance Spokesperson Councillor Andrew Makinson shows that that complaints have rocketed every year since this decade.

• 2020/21 - 3,787 complaints

• 2021/22 - 4,524 complaints (19% increase)

• 2022/23 - 4,807 complaints (6% increase)

• 2023/24 - 5,795 complaints (7% increase)

• 2024/25 - 6,208 complaints (7.5% increase) 

In total Liverpool City Council is now receiving 64% more complaints than four years ago.

 Complaints made to the Local Government Ombudsman are also up. 174 complaints were made last year compared with 104 in 2022 – a 67% increase.

 Homeless still being abandoned on our streets

Ombudsman complaints resulting in the council being forced to pay compensation include two cases where people were left sleeping rough due to council failures.

Councillor Andrew Makinson has slammed the council’s failure to get to grip with complaints. 

“Labour councillors insist that Liverpool has turned the corner since the Caller Report along with the arrest of Mayor Joe Anderson and several senior officials. The truth is that we are seeing a record number of complaints against a Labour council that continues to let down our city.” 

“Particularly shameful is the continuing failure of the council to protect our city’s homeless. Every year we are seeing compensation awarded to vulnerable people who have been abandoned sleeping rough on our streets.”

“Liverpool City Council should be providing help when homeless people ask for it, not just paying them compensation after letting them down.”