Summary: We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint about how the Council applied its council tax reduction scheme because an appeal has been made to the Valuation Tribunal.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complained the Council misapplied its council tax reduction (CTR) scheme from 2013 to 2025/26, meaning she was incorrectly billed for council tax and lost entitlement to other related benefits. Mrs X said this caused financial strain and stress and she wanted the Council to reassess her entitlement and reimburse any sums owed.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We cannot investigate a complaint if someone has appealed to a tribunal about the same matter. We also cannot investigate a complaint if in doing so we would overlap with the role of a tribunal to decide something which has been or could have been referred to it to resolve using its own powers. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(6)(a), as amended)
3. The Valuation Tribunal deals with appeals against decisions on council tax liability and council tax support or reduction.

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

6. Mrs X complained to the Council about the matters in paragraph one.
7. The Council responded to Mrs X and did not uphold her complaint.
8. Mrs X has now appealed to the Valuation Tribunal about this decision.
9. The Ombudsman cannot investigate a complaint where an appeal to the Valuation Tribunal has been used and so we have no power to investigate this complaint.

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Final decision

10. We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint because Mrs X has appealed to the Valuation Tribunal.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman