Summary: We cannot investigate Mr B’s complaint about a council tax increase. This is because the issue affects all or most of the people in the Council’s area.

The complaint

1. Mr B complains the Council has increased council tax above inflation for the third consecutive year. Mr B says he no longer has confidence in how the Council spends public money. Mr B would like the Council to re-calculate his council tax bill so it does not include an increase above inflation.

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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 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

4. I considered information provided by Mr B.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. We cannot investigate a complaint about the level of council tax in a Council’s area. This is because this decision affects all council tax payers in a council’s area, which is most residents.
7. We cannot investigate a complaint about something which affects all or most of the people in a council’s area. This means we cannot investigate this complaint and have no discretion to start an investigation.

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Final decision

8. We cannot investigate Mr B’s complaint because the issue complained about affects all or most of the people in the Council’s area.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman