Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions in relation to the recovery of a council tax debt. This is because it is made late.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains about the Council’s actions in relation to its recovery of a council tax debt that it believed he owed.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. We cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons. Late complaints are when someone takes more than 12 months to complain to us about something a council has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

6. I will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is made late and I see no good reason why we should exercise our discretion and investigate it now. The issues he complains about happened in 2022. He complained to the Council and received a final response in May 2023 but waited more than 12 months to escalate this to the Ombudsman. I see no good reason why he could not have done so sooner.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is made late.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman