Lancaster City Council (21 008 838)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 07-Mar-2022

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to take account of relevant powers to help her in respect of business rates at a pub following the death of the landlord during lockdown. Mrs X says the demand for payment of around £10,000 causes her significant financial hardship. There was no fault in the Council’s consideration of her eligibility to the Expanded Retail Discount and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant but it was at fault for not inviting her to make an application for Hardship Relief. Mrs X can now make such an application which is a suitable remedy.

Birmingham City Council (21 010 165)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 07-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a dispute over liability for council tax. This is because the complainant can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal.

London Borough of Hounslow (21 015 664)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Housing benefit and council tax benefit 07-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the way the Council calculated the complainant’s housing benefit and raised an overpayment. This is because the complainant can use her review and appeal rights.

Central Bedfordshire Council (21 016 480)

Statement Upheld Council tax 07-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr X complains about the way the Council sent him council tax bills. We will not investigate this complaint because the matter has been remedied.

Stafford Borough Council (21 016 707)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 07-Mar-2022

Summary: Ms X complains about the Council’s decision regarding council tax liability and delay in dealing with her planning application. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because this could be appealed to a Valuation Tribunal and a Planning Inspector.

London Borough of Barnet (21 006 741)

Statement Upheld Council tax 04-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr D complained about how the Council handled his council tax account. He also says the Council failed to make reasonable adjustments and delayed responding to his complaints. We find the Council was at fault as it delayed responding to the complaint. It also failed to address all the issues raised in the complaint and failed to properly investigate whether it had enough information to backdate Mr D’s council tax reduction claim. The Council has agreed to our recommendations to address Mr D’s injustice.

Shropshire Council (21 016 733)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 04-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council’s policy on council tax exemptions and the empty property premium is unfair. The policy can only be questioned at court via judicial review.

Vale of White Horse District Council (21 016 638)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Council tax 04-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint the Council has billed her for too much council tax because her home is in the wrong property band. There is no fault by the Council because it bills according to the banding decisions of the Valuation Office Agency. Those decisions can be appealed to the Valuation Tribunal.

Burnley Borough Council (21 005 347)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 03-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr X complained the Council was inappropriately seeking to recover a COVID-19 business grant paid to his business in April 2020. The Council paid the grant in error. This was fault for which it should apologise. It was not at fault for seeking to recover the grant.

City of York Council (21 009 673)

Statement Not upheld Council tax 03-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to inform him during a phone call that unless he paid his council tax arrears he would shortly be subject to court proceedings. We do not find fault with the Council as Mr X had not paid council tax for several months and was given sufficient notice in writing that a court summons would be issued if he did not pay the arrears before a certain date.