Luton Borough Council (20 009 108)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 05-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council delayed pursuing an overpayment of housing benefit. The Council is entitled to pursue repayment of the full amount. Mr X complains late about events before December 2019 and there is no reason to exercise discretion to investigate.

Wokingham Borough Council (20 009 440)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax support 05-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint about council tax reduction. This is because it is reasonable to expect Mr Y to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.

Westminster City Council (20 003 810)

Statement Not upheld Housing benefit and council tax benefit 04-Feb-2021

Summary: The Council did not give the wrong advice that Miss X could not claim housing benefit. The Council processed and paid her claims for housing benefit. There is no evidence Miss X was advised by the Council to claim Universal Credit, which she says has made her financially worse off.

London Borough of Haringey (20 006 510)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 03-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate how the Council is recovering an overpayment of housing benefit from the complainant. It is unlikely we would find fault by the Council.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (20 003 826)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 02-Feb-2021

Summary: Mr D complains the Council has not awarded his business a Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant under a scheme to support businesses impacted by COVID-19. We do not find fault in the Council’s decision to refuse a grant. But we do find fault in the Council giving Mr D misleading advice while it considered his application, which raised his expectations he would receive a grant. The Council accepts this finding and at the end of this statement we explain what action it has agreed to remedy the injustice that resulted.

Huntingdonshire District Council (20 009 510)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 02-Feb-2021

Summary: We cannot investigate this dispute over council tax liability because the complainant appealed to the Valuation Tribunal.

West Oxfordshire District Council (20 009 538)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 02-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this housing benefit complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council, it is a late complaint and because there were appeal rights the complainant could have used. In addition, there is insufficient evidence of injustice.

Winchester City Council (20 009 544)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 02-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the removal of the single person council tax discount. This is because the complainant can appeal to the Council and then appeal to the Valuation Tribunal. In addition, there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council and the complainant could complain to the Information Commissioner.

Manchester City Council (20 009 020)

Statement Upheld Council tax support 01-Feb-2021

Summary: We cannot investigate part of this housing benefit complaint because the complainant appealed to the tribunal. We will not investigate another part of the complaint because the Council has offered a fair remedy.

Salford City Council (20 009 062)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 01-Feb-2021

Summary: Mr X complains about the impact on him of the Council’s attempts to recover an outstanding council tax debt belonging to a third party. We will not investigate the complaint because it is unlikely we can add to the investigation already carried out by the Council and an investigation is unlikely to lead to a different outcome.