Brighton & Hove City Council (21 016 997)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 10-Mar-2022

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about increased council tax bills. This affects all or most of the people in the Council’s area and is therefore not within our legal remit.

East Suffolk Council (21 015 875)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 10-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the way the Council dealt with council tax for a property the complainant rents to tenants. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council and because the Council has cancelled the court costs.

London Borough of Newham (21 010 449)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 10-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a council tax refund because the Council has provided a fair response and there is not enough remaining injustice to require an investigation.

London Borough of Bexley (21 003 025)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 09-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with the complainants’ council tax account. It is unlikely we would find fault in how the Council has sought to recover unpaid council tax.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (21 016 010)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 08-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of Mrs X’s council tax arrears. This is because it is too late now to investigate council tax matters from earlier years and if Mrs X has a new complaint, she must first raise it with the Council.

London Borough of Barnet (21 016 834)

Statement Upheld Council tax 08-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about council tax. The Council has agreed to take further action to remedy the injustice caused to Mr X, and we are satisfied with the action it intends to take.

Birmingham City Council (21 010 165)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 07-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a dispute over liability for council tax. This is because the complainant can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.

Central Bedfordshire Council (21 016 480)

Statement Upheld Council tax 07-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr X complains about the way the Council sent him council tax bills. We will not investigate this complaint because the matter has been remedied.

Stafford Borough Council (21 016 707)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 07-Mar-2022

Summary: Ms X complains about the Council’s decision regarding council tax liability and delay in dealing with her planning application. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because this could be appealed to a Valuation Tribunal and a Planning Inspector.

London Borough of Barnet (21 006 741)

Statement Upheld Council tax 04-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr D complained about how the Council handled his council tax account. He also says the Council failed to make reasonable adjustments and delayed responding to his complaints. We find the Council was at fault as it delayed responding to the complaint. It also failed to address all the issues raised in the complaint and failed to properly investigate whether it had enough information to backdate Mr D’s council tax reduction claim. The Council has agreed to our recommendations to address Mr D’s injustice.