Compensation claims hitting council hard - 04/04/2008

Manchester City Council has paid out millions of pounds in compensation to people in the Greater Manchester area.

The compensation paid out has been to people who have tripped and injured themselves on pavements.

Claims over the last five years are said to have cost local tax payers £5 million in higher council tax payments.

Graham Stringer, MP for Manchester Blackley, has been very vocal attacking what he sees as a compensation culture, much of which in his view is fraudulent. The MP said,

He said: "I have absolutely no doubt that Manchester, like any major city, faces a number of claims that are simply fraudulent. Manchester is not unique in facing these problems.

"It is part of a growing compensation culture. There is something offensive about the way some companies tout for business."

Most of the compensation paid out was for what is referred to as ‘trip-slip-claims’ - where someone has sustained an injury they say is the result of the council failing to maintain its roads and pavements. Recipients can get a lump sum and money to cover loss of earnings.

A Manchester council spokeswoman said: "We take a robust approach to dealing with compensation claims."