ANNUAL ombudsman reports have largely given Dorset councils clean bills of health for the year to March 31.

The documents were issued for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, Dorset County Council and West Dorset District Council for the year to March 31.

Local government ombudsman Jerry White said his office received 10 complaints against Weymouth and Portland - two fewer than last year and four fewer than for 2004-2005 - while there were no complaints at all about housing for the second year running.

He did highlight action he took with the council over its poor handling of a noise nuisance which led to Portland businessman Ron Davis receiving £500 compensation over his complaint linked to high pressure washer noise outside his former Castletown business.

Mr White said he had made various recommendations for the council to review its procedures in this area and he was happy to confirm that the authority had responded positively and promptly' to them.

He added that, in terms of liaison, his staff were grateful for the clear and helpful responses' provided by the council.

Mr White added that complaints sent to him about Dorset County Council were also down on last year - 19 instead of 21 - and were small' when related to the number of transactions the authority carried out with residents each year.

He added: "I am pleased to say that I had no need to issue a report on my investigations into any complaints against your council last year, continuing the same pattern as in the previous two years.

"In general, it seems to me that the council's complaints procedures are working very effectively."

The local government ombudsman received 19 complaints against West Dorset District Council - the same as the previous year. Mr White said that 12 of the complaints against the council related to planning matters - two less than the previous year.

There was one complaint relating to a housing matter compared to two the previous year and two about highways and transportation.

There were no complaints relating to either benefits or public finance.

Mr White said: "I am pleased to report that as in the previous two years I did not issue any reports on investigations against West Dorset District Council last year."