Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a Council tax bill because the matter has been remedied and it affects all or most of the population of the area.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains about a precept to his Council tax bill and delays by the Council in responding to his correspondence.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. In this statement, I have used the word fault to refer to these. We provide a free service but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start or continue with an investigation if we are satisfied with the actions an organisation has taken or proposes to take. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(7), as amended)
3. We cannot investigate something that affects all or most of the people in a council’s area. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(7), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Mr X complains about the amount added to his Council tax bill to pay for adult social care. This precept affects all or most of the population of the area and so this matter is out of jurisdiction.
7. Mr X also complains of delays by the Council in responding to his complaints. I note that the Council has now done so and agreed to review the way it communicates with certain groups of people. I am satisfied that this remedies this part of Mr X’s complaint and so we will not investigate the matter further.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it affects all or most of the people in the area and part of the complaint has been remedied.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman