The full text of the Ombudsman's investigation into the failure of Bradford council to carry out its statutory duty as a highway authority concerning bridleways and map orders uncovers a host of horrors.

Some sections of it will be seen to confirm the worst fears of those who say the council is unwieldy and that officers have too much power.

One major question which must now be asked and answered in its wake is: do councillors really know what their officers are doing?

As an example, the report shows that there was a two- year delay in officers reporting back to councillors with the results of a survey. Not two weeks, not two months, but two years.

What makes that particular situation even worse is that the sub-committee chairman only raised the matter after receiving a complaint.

The current chairman says the lack of communication between senior managers and councillors has been addressed by ensuring that copies of business plans and quartlerly reviews are sent to him.

If that action has had to be taken then the next question must be: what procedures are in place in other departments and committees?

The third question must be the council's policy on customer care. Just how could the council allow a situation

where members are put to considerable trouble and expense and have to wait for action for unreasonable lengths of time due to maladministration?

The council should accept this report, carry out its own investigation and take appropriate action.

First and foremost, it should offer a public apology and make a statement as to how it is going to make amends and by when - and stick to it.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.