Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council (20 008 896)
Category : Benefits and tax > Council tax
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 12 Jan 2021
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: Ms X complains about the way the Council dealt with her council tax appeal. We will not investigate this complaint because she appealed to a tribunal.
The complaint
- Ms X complains about the way the Council dealt with her council tax appeal.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- We cannot investigate a complaint if someone has appealed to a tribunal. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(6)(a), as amended)
- The Valuation Tribunal deals with appeals against decisions on council tax liability and council tax support or reduction.
How I considered this complaint
- I have considered the comments of the complainant and the Council and the complainant has commented on the draft decision.
What I found
- Ms X appealed a council tax dispute to a Valuation Tribunal. She says that the Council mishandled the case.
- The Ombudsman cannot investigate any matter which has been appealed to a tribunal. The matter is therefore out of jurisdiction.
Final decision
- I do not intend to investigate this complaint because the matter concerns an appeal to a tribunal.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman