Manchester City Council (25 011 509)
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council wrongly sent enforcement agents to Mr X’s neighbour’s home. This is because we are satisfied with the actions the Council has taken to remedy the injustice caused to Mr X.
The complaint
- Mr X complains the Council wrongly took council tax enforcement action and sent its enforcement agents to his neighbour’s address. Mr X says this caused him much stress, anxiety and damaged his reputation and relationship with his neighbours. Mr X is dissatisfied with the monetary payment the Council has offered to him.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
- We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. In this statement, I have used the word fault to refer to these. We provide a free service but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start or continue with an investigation if we are satisfied with the actions an organisation has taken or proposes to take. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(7), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- The Council has apologised to Mr X, removed extra costs that had been added to the account due to the enforcement action and has offered him £100 in recognition of the distress caused to him.
- I understand that Mr X is dissatisfied with the amount offered but it is broadly in line with our guidance on remedies for such cases. The Council has also apologised and removed the costs from the account. As such, I am satisfied with the actions the Council has taken, and we will not therefore investigate.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because I am satisfied with the actions the Council has taken to remedy the injustice caused to Mr X.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman