St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council (20 003 334)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 21-Sep-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint that the Council gave inaccurate advice causing the complainant to suffer a financial loss. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (19 018 749)

Statement Upheld Other 10-Sep-2020

Summary: Ms X complains the Council failed to contact her properly about her council tax bill and later wrongly told her she had paid off her council tax debt in full. Ms X says this meant she had to pay extra bailiffs’ fees. The Council is at fault for failing to respond to Ms X’s contact according to its process. It has suitably remedied the injustice Ms X experienced because of its fault.

Daventry District Council (19 014 259)

Statement Upheld Other 07-Sep-2020

Summary: There was no fault by the Council, in its handling of a business rates matter. The complainant did not notify the Council he had occupied an additional unit, which ultimately explains the delay in his being billed correctly. But the Council was at fault for its poor complaint handling, and it has agreed to apologise for this.

London Borough of Wandsworth (20 002 259)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 24-Aug-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint against the Council about enforcement action for non-payment of business rates. This is because he is unlikely to find fault with the actions taken by the Council in securing payment.

Ashfield District Council (20 001 318)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 19-Aug-2020

Summary: Mr X complains about how the Council dealt with his applications for business grants saying there has been delay and the Council made the process difficult for him. Mr X feels the Council has racially discriminated against him and he has been caused emotional distress by this. The Ombudsman will not investigate as the Council has paid one grant to Mr X and we cannot add to this. Mr X’s complaint about two earlier grant applications is made late and there are not good reasons to investigate now.

Tamworth Borough Council (20 000 470)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 13-Aug-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about a refund for business rates. This is because it is a late complaint and there is no good reason to exercise discretion to consider it now.

London Borough of Haringey (20 001 546)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 03-Aug-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to hold her liable for business rates. This is because the courts are better placed to deal with the matter. We cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint about her landlord as they are not a body within our jurisdiction.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council (20 000 751)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 21-Jul-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault in the Council not sending business rates bills and not awarding small business rates relief on a second property. If Mr X disputes the Council’s interpretation of the law, that is a matter for the courts.

Lichfield District Council (20 000 569)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 16-Jul-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr C’s complaint the Council gave the Valuation Office Agency the wrong information about his business. This is because the injustice he suffered did not arise from the Council’s actions.

Leicester City Council (19 018 432)

Statement Upheld Other 14-Jul-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to reject her application for Discretionary Housing Payment. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault in the way the Council reached its decision to warrant an investigation. Ms X also complained about the Council’s decision to reject her application for Council Tax Discretionary Relief. The Ombudsman will not investigate this part of the complaint because the Council has agreed to my recommendations to take appropriate and proportionate action to remedy the injustice to Ms X.