Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about a council tax support backdate decision as this has been dealt with by the Valuation Tribunal and is now no longer within our remit.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complains about the Council’s decision not to fully back date her application for council tax support. Mrs X says she was impacted emotionally and financially by this decision and wants the full back date to be allowed.

Back to top

The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. We cannot investigate a complaint if someone has appealed to a tribunal about the same matter. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(6)(a), as amended)

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

Back to top

My assessment

6. Mrs X appealed to the Valuation Tribunal (VT) about the Council's decision. As per paragraph three, this means we are no longer able to investigate.

Back to top

Final decision

7. We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint because it has been dealt with as an appeal by the VT and as such is no longer within our legal remit.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman