A COUNCIL accused of maladministration has admitted that a shortage of staff is affecting a service it is providing.

Carol Blenkinsopp, of Langley Grove, Bishop Auckland, has lodged a complaint with Wear Valley District Council on behalf of several residents, claiming the council did not deal correctly with a planning application for a garage.

She believes the council failed to carry out a site visit due to the lack of staff and she has submitted an appeal - but has yet to receive a response several days after the council's 15-day deadline for replying.

The council admits that Mrs Blenkinsopp should have had a letter, but confessed that a lack of staff in its regeneration department is partly responsible for the delay.

Mike Ranson, complaints officer for the council's regeneration department, said: "Mrs Blenkinsopp should have been advised that it was going beyond that."

He added: "We do have a problem with staff shortage and turnover at the moment. We are acutely aware of the situation. From my point of view, it doesn't help me at all. That is a problem, but it shouldn't be an excuse."

The complaint stems from the council's decision last year to approve a neighbour's plans to build a garage in Lambton Drive, which stands at 5.2 metres in height.

Mrs Blenkinsopp claims the decision was made on the basis of an aerial photograph that failed to take into account the impact the garage would have in devaluing the neighbouring homes.

At the time, councillors expressed their dismay that the height of the garage had been approved by a council officer in November last year.

Mrs Blenkinsopp said: "We are appealing against the decision of the council on approving a garage of this height. We feel there's been an injustice done to the neighbouring residents. We are trying to prove that there's been a maladministration.

"We feel that the plans were just rubber-stamped and passed because they don't have enough staff to visit every site.

"And if they can't respond to a complaint using their own guidelines, there's something wrong."

The council said Mrs Blenkinsopp would receive a response shortly.