Southampton City Council (20 008 360)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Covid-19 27-Jan-2021

Summary: We shall not investigate this complaint about the Council refusing to pay business grants. The evidence suggests the Council was not at fault.

Sheffield City Council (20 009 507)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 27-Jan-2021

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about a housing benefit overpayment because the complainant has appealed to the tribunal.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (20 009 355)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 26-Jan-2021

Summary: Mr X, a landlord, complains about the Council’s decision to hold him liable for council tax on a property he lets. We will not investigate this complaint because he had the right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal and the matter was considered by a court.

Durham County Council (20 008 317)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Covid-19 26-Jan-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council refusing to award a business grant. We have not seen any evidence to suggest the Council was at fault.

London Borough of Brent (20 009 273)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 25-Jan-2021

Summary: Ms X complains about the Council’s decision to recover an overpayment of housing benefit. We will not investigate this complaint because she appealed to a tribunal.

London Borough of Hounslow (20 007 861)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 25-Jan-2021

Summary: Mr X disputes the Council’s decision to remove his single occupancy discount from his council tax. We will not investigate this complaint because he appealed to a Valuation Tribunal.

Birmingham City Council (19 017 213)

Statement Upheld Other 25-Jan-2021

Summary: Mrs C complained an enforcement company, acting on behalf of the Council, charged her for a visit to her property it did not make. Mrs C felt harassed by the enforcement company and found the messages it sent her threatening. We found fault with the Council causing injustice. On the balance of probabilities, the enforcement company charged Mrs C an enforcement fee for a visit it did not make and sent her misleading messages. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mrs C, make a payment for distress and review how it monitors the enforcement companies it uses.

Wealden District Council (20 002 482)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 21-Jan-2021

Summary: Mr G complains the Council wrongly refused him a Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant (payable to businesses impacted by COVID-19). We do not find the Council at fault for deciding another person should receive the grant. However, we do fault in the Council’s customer service which put Mr G to some unnecessary time and trouble. The Council has agreed to provide a remedy for that injustice, which we detail at the end of this statement.

London Borough of Havering (20 009 002)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 20-Jan-2021

Summary: Mr X complains that the Council banded his property incorrectly for council tax. We will not investigate this complaint because the decision was made by a body out of jurisdiction and he will have a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal.

Woking Borough Council (20 002 489)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 19-Jan-2021

Summary: Mrs B complains the Council refused her business financial support under grant schemes set up to support small businesses impacted by COVID-19 causing her to miss out on a grant. We uphold the complaint, finding the Council did not follow or take account of all relevant guidance in refusing the business a Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant. The Council has agreed to review that decision.