COMPLAINTS against Winchester civic services have dropped in the last year but are still far higher than four years ago.

Gripes over housing services and the environment, for such things as bin collection are on an upward path, the overview and scrutiny committee heard.

Year on year the complaints are down 2.8 per cent, from 628 to 611 but still 20 per cent up on the 509 in 2011-12 and ten per cent up on the 554 in 2010-11.

The committee paid tribute to Paul Wood, head of business management, who is leaving the authority after ten years.

Mr Wood said: “Complaints are a good thing. It tells you what is happening out there, it clarifies ways we can make improvements.”

Council chief executive Simon Eden said Mr Wood had made the council much more aware of customer service issues.