Darlington Borough Council (25 010 076)
Category : Benefits and tax > Council tax
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 07 Sep 2025
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a Council tax discount and fine because there is a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal.
The complaint
- Mr X complains that the Council removed his single occupancy discount and also fined him.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- The law says we cannot normally investigate a complaint when someone has a right of appeal, reference or review to a tribunal about the same matter. However, we may decide to investigate if we consider it would be unreasonable to expect the person to use this right. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(6)(a), as amended)
- The Valuation Tribunal deals with appeals against decisions on council tax liability and council tax support or reduction.
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X says that the Council told him in August 2025 that it was removing his single occupancy Council tax discount and it also fined him.
- Mr X has appealed to the Council about this.
- Any dispute about a Council tax discount or fine can be appealed to a Valuation Tribunal. The tribunal is an independent body which can determine any dispute about such decisions. I see no reason why an appeal could not be made in this case and so the complaint is out of jurisdiction.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because has a right of appeal to a Valuation Tribunal.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman