Summary: Ms X complains that the Council acted unreasonably in pursuing arrears of council tax. We will not investigate this complaint because there is no evidence of fault by the Council.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains that the Council acted unreasonably in pursuing arrears of council tax.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints of injustice caused by ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. I have used the word ‘fault’ to refer to these. We cannot question whether a council’s decision is right or wrong simply because the complainant disagrees with it. We must consider whether there was fault in the way the decision was reached. (Local Government Act 1974, section 34(3), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I have considered the comments of the complainant and the Council and the complainant was given an opportunity to comment on the draft decision.

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What I found

4. Ms X says that she found it difficult to pay outstanding arrears of council tax.
5. The Council says that she had been in arrears in the previous council tax year. The Council accepted that repayments would be difficult in the circumstances and agreed to extend the period of repayments to the 2021/22 council tax year.
6. I am satisfied that there is no evidence of fault by the Council in the way the Council considered her need to pay the sum over a longer period. In the absence of fault, we would not investigate this complaint..

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Final decision

7. I do not intend to investigate this complaint because there is no evidence of fault by the Council.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman