Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council tax liability because the matter was appealed to a Valuation Tribunal.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains about the Council’s decision to hold her liable for Council tax on a property between 2022 and 2023,

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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.
4. The Information Commissioner's Office considers complaints about freedom of information. Its decision notices may be appealed to the First Tier Tribunal (Information Rights). So where we receive complaints about freedom of information, we normally consider it reasonable to expect the person to refer the matter to the Information Commissioner.

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

7. Ms X disputes liability for Council tax on a property between September 2022 and November 2023. She appealed the decision unsuccessfully to the Valuation Tribunal.
8. As the Valuation Tribunal considered the dispute the Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint.
9. Ms X complains about the Council’s use of data. This is a matter for the Information Commissioner (see above) and not the Ombudsman.

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Final decision

10. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because she appealed to a Valuation Tribunal.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman