Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a Council tax premium because the dispute has been appealed to a Valuation Tribunal.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains on behalf of his neighbours that the Council unreasonable imposed a Council tax premium on their property.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We cannot investigate a complaint if someone has appealed to a tribunal about the same matter. We also cannot investigate a complaint if in doing so we would overlap with the role of a tribunal to decide something which has been or could have been referred to it to resolve using its own powers. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(6)(a), as amended)
3. The Valuation Tribunal deals with appeals against decisions on council tax liability and council tax support or reduction.

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

6. Mr X disputed (as representative) a Council tax premium applied to his neighbour’s property. He appealed unsuccessfully to the Valuation Tribunal.
7. The Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint as a right of appeal to a tribunal has been used. The complaint is therefore out of jurisdiction.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because he appealed to a Valuation Tribunal.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman