Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS)
Barnet's GARMS committee recently reviewed a report on a 47% rise in council complaints.
Barnet Council's Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee (GARMS) received the annual report on corporate complaints and the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) for the 2025/26 financial year in September 2026. The report highlighted a 47% increase in complaints to 4,131, though the proportion upheld by the council fell to 28%. The escalation rate to the LGSCO also decreased to 5%.
GARMS is a committee within Barnet Council responsible for overseeing governance, audit, risk management, and standards. The committee's role includes reviewing reports such as the annual complaints report, which provides an overview of the council's performance in handling public feedback and external ombudsman cases.
Key facts
- GARMS received the annual report on corporate complaints and LGSCO for 2025/26 in September 2026. Source
- Barnet Council saw a 47% rise in complaints in the 2025/26 financial year. Source
- Total complaints reached 4,131 in the 2025/26 financial year. Source
- The proportion of complaints upheld by the council fell to 28%. Source
- The LGSCO escalation rate decreased to 5%. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.