Tewkesbury Borough Council (20 010 018)

Statement Upheld Other 06-Sep-2021

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s failure to properly assess his claims for small business rates relief and issue timely and accurate business rates bills. We found fault by the Council in its handling of Mr X’s liability for business rates, which led to backdated bills of about £14,000. What happened caused Mr X avoidable shock and distress for which the Council agreed to apologise and provide financial redress. The Council also agreed to arrange an affordable payment plan with Mr X for the outstanding business rates.

Sevenoaks District Council (21 005 380)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 02-Sep-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the amount of business rates payable for his business premises. This is because the issue is the result of a decision by the Valuation Office Agency rather than any actions by the Council.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (20 006 580)

Statement Not upheld Other 19-Aug-2021

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s refusal to pay his company a grant and its decision to bill the company for business rates. We found no fault in how the Council reached its grant and billing decisions.

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (21 003 988)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 17-Aug-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a request for a review of business rates payable. It is for the Valuation Office Agency to assess business premises for business rates purposes and is not unreasonable to expect the complainant’s company to use its right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.

Halton Borough Council (21 003 911)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 10-Aug-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about his request for the Council to reduce the empty rate business rates charge for premises which he owns. There is no fault on the Council’s part for recovering the unpaid rates. The Valuation Office Agency is the body which deals with valuation matters and it is better placed to consider his challenge to the billing.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (21 004 151)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 06-Aug-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a dispute for business rate payments. This is a matter for the courts.

Cheshire West & Chester Council (21 000 495)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 04-Aug-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about his application for a business support grant. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council (21 003 777)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 02-Aug-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about business rates liability. The court granted a liability order to the Council in 2018 and although Mr X has disputed the rates liability since then we cannot consider the court’s decision now.

London Borough of Merton (20 009 370)

Statement Not upheld Other 27-Jul-2021

Summary: Miss B complains about enforcement agents disposing of items seized from her property for Council Tax debt. She says the Council failed to reimburse her the full value of the items. We discontinued our investigation into Miss B’s complaint because we are satisfied with the Council’s proposed actions.

Swindon Borough Council (20 010 477)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 26-Jul-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council wrongly advised the complainant to claim Universal Credit. This is because it is a late complaint and there were appeal rights the complainant could have used. We also cannot investigate the Department for Work and Pensions.