Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the complainant being sent a bill for Council tax. This is because we are unlikely to find fault.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council’s request for Council tax payments by instalments represents ‘servitude’ outlawed by the Modern Slavery Act.

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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 consider whether there was fault in the way an organisation made its decision. If there was no fault in the decision making, we cannot question the outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 34(3), 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. The Council has written to Mr X the law allowing it to send him a bill for council tax.
6. I will not investigate as the Council has not acted with fault.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is no evidence of fault by the Council.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman