London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (21 018 060)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Covid-19 28-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s refusal of his application for an ‘Additional Restrictions Grant' for businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council.

London Borough of Havering (21 018 094)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 28-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about council tax liability and council tax support. This is because it is reasonable to expect Mr Y to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal and it is not a good use of public resources to investigate this complaint about complaint handling.

London Borough of Barnet (21 018 344)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 28-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about council tax liability allegedly caused by the Council’s failure to register a former house in multiple occupation (HMO) as one property. It would be reasonable for the complainant to appeal against the decision at the Valuation Tribunal. The complaint is also late and there are no good reasons to exercise our discretion and investigate.

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (21 002 624)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 28-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council discriminated against the complainant and will only let him pay his council tax by direct debit. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

East Cambridgeshire District Council (21 017 378)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 28-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council did not respond appropriately to reports made by the complainant about her tenant. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

London Borough of Merton (21 018 803)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 27-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council requesting payment of council tax from Mr Y, or how the amount was affected by the Council’s decision on Mr X’s planning application for the property. This is because Mr Y had a right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal, he used his right of appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, and there was no fault in the Council demanding council tax irrespective of what happened to the planning application.

Manchester City Council (21 018 010)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 27-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the delay by the Council to forward Mr X’s housing benefit appeal to a tribunal. This is because the complaint is late and the complainant has now used his appeal rights.

South Oxfordshire District Council (21 018 016)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 27-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to change Mrs X’s council tax banding and the subsequent liability that arose from it. It would be reasonable for Mrs X to appeal against the bill at the Valuation Tribunal.

London Borough of Merton (21 005 278)

Statement Upheld Council tax 27-Mar-2022

Summary: Miss J complains about how the Council has dealt with her council tax support award. She says the amount it paid her was wrong. And it confused matters by changing an earlier discretionary decision to write off an overpayment. The Ombudsman’s decision is we will not look at whether the amount of council tax support was correct, as Miss J can appeal that issue. But we have upheld the complaint, as the Council’s administrative error led it to errors on Miss J’s council tax support account, that it then took some time to rectify.

London Borough of Haringey (21 016 151)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 27-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a Discretionary Housing Payment because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.