London Borough of Islington (20 003 330)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Covid-19 02-Mar-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to refuse his application for a retail, hospitality and leisure grant. This is because there is no evidence of fault affecting its decision. The Council has offered Mr X £125 for failures in its handling of the application and delay in dealing with his complaint and this provides a suitable remedy for his injustice from these issues.

Rushcliffe Borough Council (20 010 998)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Covid-19 02-Mar-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council refused to award him a government business grant. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council causing Mr X injustice.

Thurrock Council (19 018 127)

Statement Upheld Council tax 01-Mar-2021

Summary: We found the Council at fault as it failed to fulfil its offer to remove enforcement costs and fees from Mr X’s council tax debt. This put Mr X to the avoidable expense of paying costs and fees the Council had agreed to cancel. While the Council had already refunded the costs and fees, it agreed to apologise to Mr X for its earlier oversight.

London Borough of Lewisham (20 010 905)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 01-Mar-2021

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint that the complainant is not eligible for housing benefit. This is because the complainant is in the process of appealing to the tribunal.

Wakefield City Council (20 010 911)

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

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that about the council tax empty property premium. This is because the complainant can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal and because there is insufficient evidence of injustice.

Waverley Borough Council (20 002 788)

Statement Upheld Council tax 26-Feb-2021

Summary: There was fault in the way the Council handled a council tax account when Mr X and his partner separated. This was fault. The Council has agreed to apologise and refund a credit on his council tax wrongly allocated to his partner. It has also made service improvements. The complaint is upheld.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (19 018 444)

Statement Upheld Other 24-Feb-2021

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s decision to revoke his company’s small business rate relief. The Ombudsman found the Council was at fault and it agreed to provide a remedy.

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council (20 005 529)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 24-Feb-2021

Summary: Mr X complains the Council wrongly refused his business a discretionary grant, causing financial risk and distress. We find fault by the Council. Though this did not affect the Council’s decision on Mr X’s grant we recommend the Council take action to prevent recurrence.

Teignbridge District Council (20 005 832)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Covid-19 24-Feb-2021

Summary: We shall not investigate this complaint about the Council refusing Mr X a business grant. An investigation would be unlikely to reach a clear enough view about the alleged fault.

Southampton City Council (20 008 816)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 24-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council refused to award his company small business rate relief. This is because this issue hinges around a question of liability which only the courts can determine.