Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about loss to the public purse from how the Council administered a council tax account. This impacts all or most of the people in the Council’s area and is therefore not within our legal remit.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains about loss to the public purse arising from alleged delay by the Council in listing a particular property for council tax.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We cannot investigate something that affects all or most of the people in a council’s area. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(7), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

5. We cannot investigate this complaint because it impacts on all or most of the people in the Council’s area and as such, is not within our legal remit.

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Final decision

6. We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint because, by law, we cannot investigate complaints which impact on all or most of the people in a council’s area.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman